One dead, one wounded after fight on the sidelines of Gezi forum in Istanbul

ISTANBUL - Doğan News Agency

Yoğurtçu Park. DHA Photo

One man was stabbed to dead, and another was wounded after a fight which broke out June 30 on the sidelines of a Gezi forum at the Yoğurtçu Park. 

Kadir Ökçesiz, reportedly a fan of the Turkish football club Fenerbahçe, was attending the forum at the park after the demonstrating at the march of fans, who have gathered to protests against the recent UEFA decision on the team, when the fighting erupted. 

Ökçesiz was stabbed during the confrontation and succumbed to his wounded at the neaby hospital to which he had been transferred to. Cenk Eroğlu, Kadir’s friend, was also wounded during the fight, and is currently in a critical condition, according to Doğan news agency. 

Homicide bureau launched an investigation into Ökçesiz’ death, and identified the suspects involved with the fight. 

Kadir and Cenk have previously had a confrontation with the suspects over a girl, but whether or not the latest fight erupted over the same cause remains unknown, according to officials. 

The exact cause would only be settled after the suspects are caught, officials said. 

Supporters and ultras of Turkey’s football giant took to the street today to protest UEFA’s Control and Disciplinary Committee’s decision this week to ban the club from all continental competitions for two years. 

Hundreds of fans gathered in Fenerbahçe jerseys and scarves on the Asian shores, where the club is rooted, to march toward the Şükrü Saraçoğlu stadium. Supporters filled the wide Bağdat Avenue, before a large part of the gathered crowd made it to Yoğurtcu Park, where daily forums are held in accordance with the Gezi movement. 

With the lockdown of the Gezi Park, protests have spread to all city parks, where forums are frequently held as part of the ongoing protests.