Thousands of demonstrators took to the streets of Istanbul on Thursday in May Day rallies, confronting riot police officers to protest a government mired in a corruption scandal and accused of imposing a creeping authoritarianism in Turkey. The police fired tear gas, used water cannons and shut down main streets to disperse hundreds of protesters seeking to challenge a government [...] → Read the full article…
ANKARA – The debate over a controversial road construction on the Middle East Technical University (ODTÜ) campus shows that “some people have not learned their lessons,” according to the outgoing EU ambassador to Turkey. “It is unfortunate that it was undertaken without waiting for the final [court] decision.,” Ambassador Jean-Maurice Ripert, Head of the Delegation of the European Union, told [...] → Read the full article…
Clashes have erupted on the campus of Ankara’s Middle East Technical University (ODTÜ) between police and people gathered to protest the removal of trees for a road construction passing through the campus. The police repeatedly used tear gas to disperse crowds on the night of Oct. 21. Hundreds of protesters have been present on campus since the morning, attempting to [...] → Read the full article…
“Turkey or worldwide, tear gas must not be produced,” said Chamber of Chemical Engineers 2nd Chairperson Onur Gökulu, responding police authorities’ statements on the planned production of “national tear gas” “We are opposed to the production and use of tear gas not only in Turkey but anywhere in the world. Turkey or worldwide, tear gas must not be produced,” said [...] → Read the full article…
Report Shows Government’s Excessive and Unnecessary Tactics Constitute Ill Treatment New York – NY The Turkish government has engaged in unnecessary and excessive violence, used tear gas as a weapon on a massive scale, and intentionally targeted medical facilities and staff during the June demonstrations, according to a new report by Physicians for Human Rights (PHR). The report discusses how [...] → Read the full article…
All countries should suspend shipments of tear gas, armoured vehicles and other riot control projectile equipment to Turkey until the Turkish authorities can guarantee protesters’ right to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression, Amnesty International said. (c) Eren Aytuğ / Nar Photos The call comes as police have again abusively used large amounts of tear gas and water cannon to [...] → Read the full article…
Police broke up protestors in Istanbul’s Okmeydani district who gathered to demand justice for B.E. (14), a Gezi Resistance demonstrator in coma for 86 days. While 10 demonstrators and 1 policeman were injured, 5 were detained including 3 children. Among injured protestors included Mete Diş, a cancer patient. Police broke up protestors in Istanbul’s Okmeydani district who started a “justice [...] → Read the full article…
ANKARA Police exercised “excessive force” in trying to quell the Gezi Park protests in Istanbul and İzmir, according to a recent report prepared by Interior Ministry inspectors. The report demanded permission to open preliminary an investigation into some cases of the excessive use of force in Istanbul. It also demanded permission to probe plainclothes police officers who were seen carrying [...] → Read the full article…
ISTANBUL - Police fired water cannons and tear gas at a group of demonstrators who gathered in Taksim Square to protest the violence used against a 14-year-old teenager who has been in intensive care for 46 days after being hit by a tear gas canister in Istanbul during the Gezi Park unrest. Berkin Elvan was not a protester but a by-stander [...] → Read the full article…
You see the question in this title… It wipes you out. It shatters you, it ruins you. How can any heart endure this pain? It’s your kid, it’s your life… What could be beyond that? There, Berkin, has been sleeping for 39 days, just like that… He has had two brain surgeries. He is still unconscious. It’s not clear whether [...] → Read the full article…