Measures for Eid al-Adha in Istanbul: 284,328 security personnel will be on duty

Istanbul Governor Davut Gül announced the measures taken for the Feast of Sacrifice at the July 15 Democracy Bus Station. Governor Davut Gül, who spoke about the measures taken for the feast, where 284,328 security personnel will be on duty throughout the province, said, ‘We do not want any harm to come to any of our citizens. Therefore, compliance with the rules, not setting off on the roads tired, adherence to traffic measures will eliminate accidents.’ Istanbul Governor Davut Gül, accompanied by Major General Yusuf Kenan Topcu, Coast Guard Commander Rear Admiral Tayfun Paşaoğlu, Provincial Police Chief Zafer Aktaş, and Bayrampaşa District Governor Soner Şenel, conducted traffic inspections at the application point at the July 15 Democracy Bus Station before the Feast of Sacrifice and announced the measures taken throughout the province.
Those who slaughter sacrificial animals without complying with the designated standards and bury the remains in the soil will be fined according to the information shared by the Governorship. A total of 58,464 vehicles and 284,328 personnel, including 45,126 public security teams, 8,622 traffic teams, and 4,716 motorized units affiliated with the Istanbul Police Department, will be on duty. A total of 1,984 teams and 10,826 personnel from the Provincial Gendarmerie Command will be in the field. The Coast Guard Command will operate with a total of 57 vehicles and 370 personnel, including 4 special diving teams, 27 floating units, 23 land teams, 2 mobile radars, and 1 helicopter, to respond to incidents that may occur in our seas. Administrative fines of 464,585 Turkish lira will be imposed on institutions, organizations, and businesses that do not comply with the designated standards in sacrificial slaughter or fail to take necessary measures when burying the remains, while individuals will face fines of 11,540 Turkish lira, and those who litter public places will be fined 4,810 Turkish lira.
“With the assistance of our citizens, we will celebrate the feast in peace” Governor Davut Gül, who announced the measures, stated, ‘Our security forces have taken a series of precautions under the coordination of the Ministry of Interior to ensure that the Feast of Sacrifice passes in peace and security. As always during holidays, and especially during the 9-day holiday, our top priority is to minimize traffic accidents, preferably prevent them altogether, and ensure that there are no casualties or property losses. We do not want any harm to come to any of our citizens. Therefore, compliance with the rules, not setting off on the roads tired, adherence to traffic measures will eliminate accidents. Both within Istanbul and at the exits of our province, electronic monitoring system reports, especially traffic rules, will continue to be open throughout the holiday period, conducting inspections. All personnel of our police department and gendarmerie command will be on duty during the holiday in terms of maintaining public order, traffic, and similar matters. With the assistance of our citizens, we will celebrate the feast in peace.’
“What we do not want to see during the Feast of Sacrifice is the slaughter of animals in parks, gardens, and streets” Governor Gül, who announced that action will be taken against those who engage in irregular slaughtering, said, ‘Aside from traffic, what we do not want to see during the Feast of Sacrifice is the slaughter of animals in parks, gardens, and streets. Our municipalities have announced the places for sacrificial animal sales and slaughtering. Our agricultural directorate is overseeing their inspections. Therefore, animals will only be slaughtered in designated places. In cases of irregular slaughtering in places not designated for sacrifices, police, municipal officers, gendarmerie, and agricultural directorate personnel will take the necessary actions. Our request from our citizens is for animals to be slaughtered in accordance with the proper procedures, for their remains to be disposed of properly, and for no harm to be caused to the environment or people while performing the sacrificial ritual.’
“In places without lifeguards, where swimming is prohibited, please do not enter the sea” Governor Davut Gül, emphasizing that citizens should not swim in the sea outside safe areas, stated, ‘One of the most common things we encounter during holidays is women and children swimming in uncontrolled areas outside of beaches, leading to drownings. Please do not enter the sea in places without lifeguards, where swimming is prohibited. We have instructed our municipalities’ relevant institutions to take necessary measures to prevent drownings, especially in ponds where children play. In this regard, if our citizens take care of their children, keep them under control, no one will be harmed. Our police and coast guard will continue their checks on noise pollution, especially around the Bosphorus. We have the habit of having barbecues, and we have made the necessary arrangements regarding entry into forests. Entry into forests where there is no control has been prohibited until autumn, except for designated long-term picnic areas, barbecuing, making fires in other areas is prohibited. Let’s repeat this once again.’
“Individual carelessness leads to traffic accidents” Governor Davut Gül, warning the public, said, ‘We anticipate fewer returns because of the summer vacation. The fact that it coincides with the school holiday period and is a 9-day holiday has increased traffic congestion by 50%. We have raised our measures to the highest level, especially on intercity roads, including private vehicles. Our police have 56,000 personnel, all of whom are on duty during the holiday. All of our gendarmerie is on duty, all of our coast guard is on duty. Therefore, precautions, inspections, and controls have been taken. However, no matter what measures you take, it all comes down to the individual driving the vehicle, the person traveling. Therefore, vehicle drivers should not set off on the roads tired, comply with the rules, and adhere to similar measures such as wearing seat belts. Almost all accidents are caused by the faults of drivers. Our roads are of very good quality. Individual carelessness leads to traffic accidents. Therefore, both our drivers and fellow travelers need to control each other in this regard.’ Governor Davut Gül later shook hands and exchanged holiday greetings with the press members. He then boarded passenger buses, offered chocolates to passengers, and wished them a happy holiday.