AKP Suspends Election Rallies Until Oct. 16

The Justice and Development Party (AKP), holder of the caretaker government, has decided to suspend holding election rallies until Oct. 16 in the aftermath of the Oct. 10 suicide bombing in the run-up to the snap elections on Nov.1.

AKP spokesperson Ömer Çelik announced the party's decision on Oct. 12, following a Central Executive Board (MYK) meeting chaired by AKP leader, Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu.

"Our few rallies on Friday [Oct.16] and consecutive rallies on a routine schedule, rather than a party rally, will be organized as rallies of unity, peace and fraternity against terror" Çelik said.

Earlier on Oct. 12, Ayhan Bilgen, spokesperson for the Kurdish-focused Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) said their party is considering cancelling all of its rallies ahead of the Nov. 1 election due to security fears.

The attack, which killed at least 97 people and was the worst of its kind in Turkish history, has fuelled security concerns surrounding the election. The interior minister was reported saying that extra security precautions would be taken after the bombing. - Ankara