The appeal made by lawyer Ümit Erdem regarding the Istanbul Governorate’s decision to ban alcohol consumption in public spaces in August 2023 has been concluded. The Istanbul Regional Administrative Court’s 10th Administrative Litigation Department ruled to cancel the decision.
The court emphasized that such restrictions can only be imposed in accordance with Articles 12 and 13 of the Constitution, which concern the “nature of fundamental rights and freedoms” and the “limitation of fundamental rights and freedoms.” It stated, “These limitations must not contradict the letter and spirit of the Constitution, the requirements of democratic societal order, and the principles of secularism and proportionality.”
Lawyer Erdem, commenting on the decision, said, “I filed the lawsuit because I saw this practice as an intervention in fundamental rights and freedoms. The issue here is creating a space to interfere with people’s lives by demonizing alcohol. Public institutions must stop imposing lifestyle mandates. Everyone must learn to tolerate each other,” he stated.
Call to the Governorate from the Laicism Assembly
The Laicism Assembly issued a written statement regarding the cancellation of the Istanbul Governorate’s decision to prohibit alcohol consumption in public places, which was annulled by the Istanbul Regional Administrative Court. The statement read, “As the Laicism Assembly, we fully support this annulment decision, which shows that there are still brave judges in this country who can make independent and impartial decisions in line with the secular, democratic, and social rule of law principles, as well as fundamental rights and freedoms prescribed by our Constitution. We urge the Istanbul Governorate to take necessary action in accordance with this decision.”
