In recent weeks, we have been closely monitoring the security and safety situation in Istanbul. We have been paying special attention to the potential impact of events in Israel and the Gaza Strip on the safety of our attendees.
We always take into account the risk associated with any event we plan, and in the case of Devconnect Istanbul we consulted our event organizers and local community members. We also monitored any government warnings that could affect our community and, recently, we took an extra step by working with external risk-advisory services to determine where and how changes may be needed to reflect regional conditions.
Before any further updates, we would like to bring to your attention two points:
– Although the current threat is specifically targeted at Devconnect Istanbul, there is a high risk of large protests, violence or disruptions in the area. This risk could increase in the coming weeks if the conflict between Israel and Gaza escalates.
– There is a serious risk for Israelis, people of Israeli nationality and Jewish faith or descent. A notice has been released to warn them to leave Turkey immediately.
Therefore, we strongly advise people belonging to high-risk groups to take our warnings seriously and to reconsider their travel plans for Devconnect Events organized by EF.
We understand that this decision may cause some inconvenience, but safety is our utmost priority. We are committed to sharing as much information as possible about what we learn.
The last few weeks have been emotionally and intellectually challenging for many of our community members. We have taken into account the distance between the two locations when assessing the risks. The local community has been very supportive throughout the conflict, and we have received feedback from those who would be personally impacted, team members in conflict zones, organizing teams, and others who have worked hard for these events all year.
We will continue to provide updates as the situation evolves. Thank you for your patience and understanding during this difficult time.
