Tag Archives: Turkey

Radikal: “If I responded to the violent police officer who shot me with violence, I wouldn’t be any different from him”

umur-can-ersahin

Umur Can Erşahin, who was shot with a tear gas cartridge on his head during Gezi Park protests, says, “I will not change because of this incident.”  Umur Can Erşahin, 27, suffered from a cerebral trauma and hemorrhage after being hit by a tear gas cartridge which was fired from a distance of 10 metres. Erşahin says: “If violently attack [...] → Read the full article…

The Guardian: Erdoğan’s reaction to Turkey protests reveals ominous Putin parallels – Luke Harding

Leader is used to having things his own way but, civil society movement can no longer be suppressed, says Luke Harding The assault was as brutal as it was predictable. On Friday and Saturday Erdoğan had hosted a European Union meeting in Istanbul. Rumour had it that Turkey‘s prime minister would send in riot police to clear the demonstrators from Taksim Square [...] → Read the full article…

BBC News: Turkey’s Erdogan to meet protesters

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan is to meet the organisers of ongoing protests against his government on Wednesday, says his deputy. Bulent Arinc said Mr Erdogan would “listen to their thoughts”, but added that illegal protests would not be allowed. The prime minister has taken a tough line with the protesters. The anti-government unrest was sparked by a police [...] → Read the full article…

The Huffington Post: The Erdogan condemns protests as ‘handful of looters’ in Adana – Suzan Fraser and Elena Becatoros

In a series of increasingly belligerent speeches to cheering supporters Sunday, Turkey’s prime minister demanded an end to the 10-day anti-government protests that have spread across the country, saying those who do not respect the government will pay. Recep Tayyip Erdogan said his patience was running out with the protesters, who have occupied Istanbul’s main Taksim Square for more than [...] → Read the full article…

The Guardian: Erdoğan’s party rules out early elections as thousands defy call to end protest

Tens of thousands of Turks mass again in Taksim Square, where activists have been sleeping in tents and buses Turkish prime minister Tayyip Erdoğan’s AK party has ruled out early elections as tens of thousands of anti-government demonstrators defied his call for an immediate end to protests. Hüseyin Çelik, deputy chairman of the Justice and Development (AK) party founded by [...] → Read the full article…

Reuters: Turkey rules out early polls, thousands defy call to end protest- Nick Tattersall and Ece Toksabay

(Reuters) – Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan’s AK Party on Saturday ruled out early elections as thousands of anti-government demonstrators defied his call for an immediate end to protests. Huseyin Celik, deputy chairman of the Justice and Development (AK) Party founded by Erdogan just over a decade ago, said local and presidential elections would be held next year as planned, [...] → Read the full article…

The Economist: The new young Turks

Protests against Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and his ham-fisted response, have shaken his rule and his country IT BEGAN with a grove of sycamores. For months environmentalists had been protesting against a government-backed plan to chop the trees down to make room for a shopping and residential complex in Istanbul’s Taksim Square. They organised a peaceful sit-in with tents, singing and [...] → Read the full article…

CNN iReport:Turkish PM calls for a ‘civil war’ !?

CNN PRODUCER NOTE     This iReport has not been verified by CNN. This is a personal essay and interpretation by iReporter enaz. - Jareen, CNN iReport producer Turkish PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan came back to Turkey from Tunis today at 2 am. He was supposed to land at 9 pm but to gather more people to support him, his flight was delayed for [...] → Read the full article…

CNN: Turkish authorities arrest social media users; calls for Erdogan to resign continue- Michael Pearson and Gul Tuysuz

  Istanbul (CNN) – Thousands of people of all ages gathered Wednesday evening in Ugur Mumcu square in Antakya, a picturesque town in the Hatay province of Turkey. They chanted “Tayyip istifa!” or “Tayyip resign,” demanding that Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan leave office. On nearly every street, CNN journalists heard pots and pans banging and saw security forces. The authorities, [...] → Read the full article…

MailOnline: Horrifying image of ‘woman in red’ being doused with pepper spray becomes symbol of Turkish protests

Photograph of woman turning from the pepper spray has become defining image of Turkey’s days of violent protest Women feel threatened by official promotion of the Islamic headscarf and concerns about women’s rights  Many have joined in the street fighting raging in Turkey since Friday British student Melisa Kenber said she was sprayed in the face for filming police during [...] → Read the full article…