Protest in front of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality from tradesmen whose minibuses turned into 8+1 taxis

Members of the group, who called themselves "8+1 Taxi Victims Platform", gathered in front of the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality's Saraçhane building.

Group members protesting the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality demanded that their grievances be redressed.

Upon the request of the group members who said that they wanted to meet with the authorities, Istanbul Minibus Drivers Chamber of Tradesmen President Emin Alagöz and his accompanying delegation met with IMM Deputy Secretary General Gürkan Akgün.

Making a press statement on behalf of the group after the meeting, Alagöz said that they received a promise from Akgün that the issue would be brought to the agenda at the Transportation Coordination Center (UKOME) meeting tomorrow.

Alagöz stated that there are segment freedom conditions and that this has been accepted, and said, "There will be segment freedom. The municipality will also rent the vehicles of our tradesmen who want to rent them to the municipality in an institutional sense. That does not bind us too much. There is no pressure, they will do the rental model, but there will be segment freedom."

During the protest, a short argument broke out between the parties when a shopkeeper said, "I worked as a commando in the mountains of this country," to which a police officer responded, "Did you do it to me?"

The group members dispersed after the statement.