Istanbul governor apologizes for ‘exorbitance’ during Occupy Taksim protests

ISTANBUL – Hürriyet Daily News

Istanbul Gov. Hüseyin Avni Mutlu speaks at a press conference. DHA photo

Istanbul Gov. Hüseyin Avni Mutlu posted an apology message over his official Twitter account this morning to express his regret for “individual mistakes and exorbitance” that have occasionally occurred during the Gezi Park protests, which entered their 13th day today.
 
He also posted a surprisingly positive message, saluting Gezi Park protesters and saying “he would like to be with them” earlier in the morning.

Istanbul Gov. Hüseyin Avni Mutlu posted a surprisingly positive message over his official Twitter account this morning, saluting Gezi Park protesters and saying “he would like to be with them.”

“Young people, I hear you spent a peaceful morning in Gezi Park with bird songs, the buzzing of bees and the smell of linden trees. I would like to be with you,” Mutlu posted on his @ValiMutlu account.

Mutlu also said those protesters define themselves as only “free individuals, citizens.”

“Even if we can not agree with each other, it is obligatory for us to share our problems by looking into our eyes humanly and with justice; every individual is worthy and special,” he further tweeted.

So far, two protesters and one police officer have died in the events, while thousands have been injured.

Mutlu said he could not sleep the previous night and that awoke at 6 a.m. to salute the young people who are sleeping in Gezi Park instead of their warm beds.

He also said an intervention by police against protesters would not happen.

The governor had drawn fierce criticism for the police’s harsh intervention against peaceful protesters.