Gezi Park protests

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2013 Gezi Park protests in Turkey
File:30 May 2013 Taksim Square protests.jpg
Protest on 30 May 2013 in Taksim Gezi Park, Istanbul
Date28 May 2013 (2013-05-28) – ongoing
Location
Turkey: Istanbul, Ankara[1][2]
GoalsProtecting Gezi Park, protesting lack of consultation, defending freedom of speech and right to assembly
MethodsCivil disobedience, civil resistance, demonstrations, online activism, protest marches, rioting, sit-ins
StatusOngoing
Parties
Lead figures

Government Leaders:

Number
Around ten thousand[3]
Policemen
Casualties
Injuries12,[4] up to 100 [5]
ArrestedAt least 60[6]

From 28 May 2013, protests have been held in Turkey. The initial Istanbul protests were led by environmentalists, against replacing Taksim Gezi Park with a reconstruction of Taksim Military Barracks (demolished 1940) intended to house a shopping mall. The protests developed into riots when a group occupying the park was attacked by police. The subject of the protests have since broadened beyond the development of Taksim Gezi Park, developing into wider anti-government demonstrations[7] and the protests have also spread to other cites.[6]

Some of the protesters have styled themselves as #OccupyGezi.[8] Protesters took to the Taksim Square of Istanbul and streets in Ankara[1], as well as Bursa, Eskişehir, İzmir, Mersin, Adana, İzmit, Konya, Samsun[9] and Bodrum.[5]

The range of protesters was noted as being broad, encompassing both right- and leftwingers as well as Turks and Kurds.[5] Protesters' complaints ranged from the original local environmental concerns to such issues as curbs on alcohol, rows about kissing in public, and the war in Syria.[5]

On 31 May 2013, police suppressed the protesters harshly with tear gas, arrested at least 60 people and injured 1,000.[10][6] The police action received wide attention online, with the support of celebrities[11] on Twitter.[8] Protesters organized and gathered in İstiklal Avenue, reaching thousands on the night of 31 May.[6][3]

Background

Since 2011, the Islamic-leaning Justice and Development Party (AKP) lead by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has increased restrictions on freedom of speech, freedom of the press and internet use,[12] alcohol consumption,[13] abortion[14] and television content,[15] as well as right to free assembly.[16] Parliamentarians of the ruling party also opposed extension of LGBT rights in Turkey during a 29 May debate.[17] The government has been seen as increasingly Islamist and authoritarian,[18] with a party official stating in April that he expected the party to lose liberal support.[19][20]

Erdoğan gave a speech at the groundbreaking ceremony for the Yavuz Sultan Selim Bridge and said "Whatever you do, we've made our decision and we will implement it," referring to the government's decision to cut down Gezi Park's trees in Taksim Square in order to rebuild the Ottoman-era Taksim Military Barracks (which had been demolished in 1940).[21] The government planned to replace the barracks and Gezi Park with a replica Ottoman-era army barracks housing a shopping mall.[22]

Timeline

28 May

Taksim Military Barracks, built 1806, turned into Taksim Stadium in 1921, and demolished in 1940.

Early in the morning on 28 May around 50 people stood guard at Gezi Park to prevent its destruction.[23] The walls of the park were being bulldozed, and the people tried to stop this. With the help of BDP MP Sırrı Süreyya Önder, the bulldozing was stopped.[24] Later the bulldozing continued, with the assistance of the Zabıta police.[24] There was no physical resistance, but tear gas was used, and the protesters/ tents were burned by the civilian police.[24] Sırrı Süreyya Önder then stood in front of the bulldozer and demanded to see the legal permits.[23][25] Sırrı Süreyya Önder said that they would not allow the trees to be cut down, as they provided an important shaded resting place especially for poorer people.[23][26] Önder was then hospitalized due to an injury from a tear gas capsule.[27]

29 May

After the events of 28 May the protest group grew, and continued to stand guard in the park, putting up tents and remaining there overnight.[28] They prepared a programme for 29 May, with a 12:30 press conference and a 6pm concert and 10pm film showing.[29] The group continued to grow through social media. Other prominent people joined Sırrı Süreyya Önder in the protest, including the actors Gonca Vuslateri, Gürsel Tekin, Memet Ali Alabora, Okan Bayülgen and Şebnem Sönmez.[30] Devrim Evin, lead actor of Fetih 1453, announced on Twitter that he was not attending its 29 May premiere in protest.[30]

31 May

Sırrı Süreyya Önder was hospitalised after being hit in the shoulder by a tear gas canister.[22] On 31 May during tear gas attacks on protesters, army soldiers were seen handing out gas masks.[31] Police continued to fire tear gas, pepper spray and water cannons at demonstrators, with more than 100 injuries reported.[32] Two protesters suffered broken arms and several others had minor bone fractures when a scaffolding collapsed as they tried to escape the police intervention on the square, and some protesters threw rocks at the security forces.[32] The executive order regarding the earlier-decided process has been declared as 'on-hold' on 31 May 2013.[33] According to governor Huseyin Avni Mutlu, 63 people had been arrested and detained.[34]

The police use of tear gas was criticised for being "indiscriminate".[34] The interior minister, Muammer Guler, said the claims of the use of disproportionate force would be investigated.[34]

Large protests also occurred in Ankara and Izmir.[6] In İzmir, more than 10,000 people held a protest on 31 May, with demonstrators holding banners reading "Everywhere is Taksim, everywhere is resistance", "Resist Taksim, İzmir is with you", and "Chemical Erdoğan". Protesters in İzmir were also raided[35] by police armed with tear gas and water cannons.[9]

1 June

Hundreds of protesters from Kadıköy (the Asian side of the city) walked across the Bosphorus Bridge around 09:00 local time, to join the main protest groups in Taksim. They were met with police intervention.[36][37]

International Reaction

United States of America State Department spokesperson Jen Psaki expressed concern: "We believe that Turkey's long-term stability, security and prosperity is best guaranteed by upholding the fundamental freedoms of expression, assembly and association, which is what it seems these individuals were doing."[38]

Turkish media

Foreign media noted that the protests had attracted relatively little mainstream media coverage and speculated that this may be due to government pressure.[5]

See also

External links

References

  1. ^ a b "Turkey protests spread from Istanbul to Ankara". Euronews. 31 May 2013. Retrieved 1 June 2013.
  2. ^ "Turkey: Istanbul clashes rage as violence spreads to Ankara". The Guardian. 31 May 2013. Retrieved 1 June 2013.
  3. ^ a b "Chaos on the streets of Istanbul as police disperse 10,000 peaceful protesters". New York Post. 31 May 2013.
  4. ^ "Turkey police clash with Istanbul Gezi Park protesters". BBC News. 31 May 2013. Retrieved 1 June 2013.
  5. ^ a b c d e "Turkey protests spread after violence in Istanbul over park demolition". The Guardian. 31 May 2013. Retrieved 1 June 2013.
  6. ^ a b c d e "Turkey arrests anti-government protesters". Al Jazeera English. 31 May 2013. Retrieved 1 June 2013.
  7. ^ "Fresh anti-government clashes hit Turkey". Al Jazeera. 1 June 2013. Retrieved 1 June 2013.
  8. ^ a b "Protesters #OccupyGezi to save Istanbul park". Al Jazeera. 31 May 2013. Retrieved 1 June 2013.
  9. ^ a b "Solidarity protests with Gezi Park held across Turkey". Hürriyet Daily News. 31 May 2013.
  10. ^ http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/06/01/us-turkey-protests-idUSBRE94U0J920130601
  11. ^ "Ünlüler Gezi Parkı ile ilgili Twitter'da neler söyledi?". Radikal. 31 May 2013. Retrieved 1 June 2013.
  12. ^ "Charges Against Journalists Dim the Democratic Glow in Turkey". New York Times. 4 January 2012.
  13. ^ "Alcohol in Turkey: Not so good for you". The Economist. 30 May 2013.
  14. ^ "Turkish law will make legal abortion impossible, say campaigners". The Guardian. 1 February 2013.
  15. ^ "In Erdogan's Turkey, Censorship Finds Fertile Ground". Al-Monitor. 13 January 2013.
  16. ^ "Erdogan Visit to Berlin Betrays Tensions". Spiegel Online. 31 October 2013.
  17. ^ "Main opposition urges protection of LGBT's, ruling party calls them 'immoral'". Hürriyet Daily News. 2013-5-29. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  18. ^ "Fresh anti-government clashes hit Turkey". Al Jazeera. 1 June 2013. Retrieved 1 June 2013.
  19. ^ Seymour, Richard (31 May 2013). "Istanbul park protests sow the seeds of a Turkish spring". The Guardian. Retrieved 1 June 2013.
  20. ^ "Turkish ruling party 'to leave liberals out'". Hürriyet Daily News. 2 April 2013. Retrieved 1 June 2013.
  21. ^ "Başbakan'dan süre pazarlığı". Hürriyet (in Turkish). 29 May 2013. Retrieved 1 June 2013.
  22. ^ a b New York Times, 31 May 2013, Police Attack Protesters in Istanbul’s Taksim Square
  23. ^ a b c "Gezi Parkı'ndaki nöbete biber gazı". NTV (in Turkish). 28 May 2013. Retrieved 1 June 2013.
  24. ^ a b c "Raid on 'Occupy Taksim Park' demonstrators triggers outcry". Hürriyet Daily News. 2013-5-30. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  25. ^ Tönbekici, Mutlu (31 May 2013). "Has adam Sırrı Süreyya Önder". Vatan. Retrieved 1 June 2013.
  26. ^ "Taksim Gezi Parkı için nöbet tuttular". Sabah (in Turkish). 28 May 2013. Retrieved 1 June 2013.
  27. ^ "Sırrı Süreyya Önder hastaneden çıktı: Bunun altından kalkamazlar. Hesabını soracağız". Radikal. 31 May 2013. Retrieved 1 June 2013.
  28. ^ "Eylemciler Gezi Parkı'nda sabahladı". Sabah. 29 May 2013. Retrieved 1 June 2013.
  29. ^ "Gezi Parkı'nda direniş: 29 Mayıs programı". Sendika.org. Retrieved 29 May 2013.
  30. ^ a b "Fetih Günü Gezi Parkı'nda eylemdeyim". NTV (in Turkish). 29 May 2013. Retrieved 1 June 2013.
  31. ^ Template:Tr icon "Asker yardım elini uzattı". Radikal. 31 May 2013. Retrieved 1 June 2013.
  32. ^ a b "Scores injured as police clash with protesters in Istanbul". France 24. 1 June 2013.
  33. ^ Template:Tr icon "Topçu Kışlası'nda yürütmeyi durdurma kararı". Hürriyet. 1 June 2013. Retrieved 1 June 2013.
  34. ^ a b c "Tear gas fired at protesters in Istanbul". Telegraph. 31 May 2013. Retrieved 1 June 2013.
  35. ^ http://www.radikal.com.tr/turkiye/ankara_ve_izmirdeki_gezi_parki_eylemlerine_gazli_mudahale-1135813
  36. ^ "Turkey protests: Unrest rages in Istanbul and Ankara". BBC. 1 June 2013. Retrieved 1 June 2013.
  37. ^ "Kıtalararası protesto!". NTVMSNCBC. 1 June 2013. Retrieved 1 June 2013.
  38. ^ "Turkey police clash with Istanbul Gezi Park protesters". BBC. 1 June 2013. Retrieved 1 June 2013.

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