A Turkish Court has ruled against the development of Istanbul’s Taksim Square and Gezi Park, the issue that ignited weeks of nationwide unrest and government violence.

The court order is dated 8 June, at the high point of the daily demonstrations against Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who wanted to develop the open spaces in the middle of sprawling Istanbul.  It is not clear why it wasn’t released then, ahead of brutal police crackdowns that saw numerous people injured and even the deaths of three citizens and a police officer.

The ruling states that the government's plan to get rid of the open spaces and replace them with a replica of an Ottoman-era military barracks would not serve the public.  The ruling also banned a planned pedestrian mall.

It’s a win for the environmentalists whose initial opposition provided focus for groups and Labor Unions with a wide range of grievances against Erdogan, who is expected to appeal.