This isn’t just about lipstick – if Turkey can’t reconcile secularism, Islam and democracy, there will be global repercussions. Secularism: what does it mean to the people of Turkey? Is it simply a question of whether we can buy alcohol when we please, or whether the cabin crew of Turkish airlines are allowed to wear red lipstick? It cannot simply [...] → Read the full article…
They barricaded the Barbaros Boulevard in Istanbul with tanks. And they were running down on people by Riot Control Vehicles and tear gas bombs from three different directions. Everybody just dispersed all over. Me and two of my friends, we took refuge in another friend’s office at the ground level. Then policemen forced into the office. Some of them were [...] → Read the full article…
“His Biggest Challenge Is President Abdullah Gul, Not Liberals … Erdogan’s own party members sense the changing tide. Indeed, even before the protests, there was widespread uneasiness within the AKP ranks. Most AKP parliamentarians had little enthusiasm for Erdogan’s plan to change the constitution and introduce an executive presidency. His scheme would have concentrated all power into the hands of [...] → Read the full article…
(CNN) — It’s a congested, sprawling transport hub surrounded by 1950s architecture and predominantly used by commuters or tourists to cross the city of Istanbul. But proposed changes to Taksim Square have seen it become the flashpoint for protests that have swept through Turkey in the past week, leaving thousands injured and focusing the world’s attention on the government of [...] → Read the full article…
Some of the banners read “we are not a political party, we are the people”, “we claim religion without AKP, Atatürk without CHP, motherland without MHP, Kurdish rights without BDP, we are the people”. Millions are in revolt in Turkey. Although the revolt is called the Gezi Park Resistance, it is no longer about saving trees and parks from the [...] → Read the full article…
Demonstrations across Turkey are about more than a shopping centre development; the mass protests stem from a deeper unease. Lisa Morrow lives in Istanbul and has witnessed the riots firsthand. The following is her account of the clashes. Istanbul: June 1, 2013 By now most people around the world will be aware of the protests taking place in Istanbul, Ankara, [...] → Read the full article…
The World Medical Association has called on the Turkish authorities to end immediately the excessive use of force against peaceful protestors and to ensure the right to freedom of expression and assembly. It has also called for an independent and impartial investigation into the excessive use of force and for officials found to have ill-treated demonstrators or other members of [...] → Read the full article…
“To all my friends in Turkey I am with you! We are with you! You are so right to resist the forces of autocracy and repression. It doesn’t matter who they are. If I read the Internet right, in your case, you are resisting autocratic religious zealots. Turkey is your country and we support you and yearn for your freedom, [...] → Read the full article…