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Gezi Park protests

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2013 Taksim Gezi Park protests
Police forces waiting for the protesters coming from İstiklal Avenue on 1 June 2013
Date28 May 2013 (2013-05-28) – present
(11 years, 1 month and 2 days)
Location
Turkey: Istanbul, Ankara, İzmir, Adana, and most major cities. [1][2]
GoalsProtecting Gezi Park, protesting lack of consultation and police's use of excessive force, defending freedom of speech and right to assembly
MethodsCivil disobedience, civil resistance, demonstrations, online activism, protest marches, rioting, sit-ins
StatusOngoing
Parties
Anti-government protestors (left to right[3]), environmentalists, Union of Chambers of Turkish Engineers and Architects, Football associations of the four major teams, Anti-capitalist muslims.
Lead figures

Government Leaders:

Number
10,000 (Istanbul)[4]
10,000 (Izmir)[5]
10,000 (Trabzon)[6]
unknown number of policemen
Casualties
Death(s)2 (unconfirmed)[7]
Injuries120[8] up to 1000[9] (government figures: 79[10])
ArrestedAt least 939[11]

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 the historic Taksim Military Barracks (demolished in 1940), with the possibility of housing 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.[12] The protests have also spread to other cities in Turkey, and protests have been seen in other countries with significant Turkish communities.[13]

Protesters took to the Taksim Square of Istanbul and streets in Ankara[1] as well as Bursa, Antalya, Eskişehir, İzmir, Mersin, Adana, İzmit, Konya, Samsun,[14] Trabzon, and Bodrum.[9] Some of the protesters have styled themselves as #OccupyGezi.[15]

The range of protesters was noted as being broad, encompassing both right and left wing individuals as well as nationalist Turks and Kurds.[9] Protesters' complaints ranged from the original local environmental concerns to such issues as curbs on alcohol,[16] a recent row about kissing in public,[9] and the war in Syria.[9] Istanbul mayor Kadir Topbaş stated that the environmental campaign had been manipulated by "political agendas."[17] The clashes are one of the most challenging events for the Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's ten-year rule.[18][19][20] Mustafa Akyol, a "liberal Islamist" journalist, described the events as the cumulative reaction of the people to Erdoğan.[21]

On 31 May 2013, police suppressed the protesters with tear gas, arrested at least 60 people and injured hundreds.[13][22] The police action received wide attention online.[15][23] Protesters organized and gathered on İstiklal Avenue, reaching thousands on the night of 31 May.[4][13]

Background

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

Since 2011, the Islamic-leaning Justice and Development Party (AKP) led by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has increased restrictions on freedom of speech, freedom of the press and internet use,[24] alcohol consumption,[25] abortion[26] and television content,[27] as well as right to free assembly.[28] Parliamentarians of the ruling party also opposed extension of LGBT rights in Turkey during a 29 May debate.[29] The government's stance on the civil war in Syria is another cause of the social tension in the country.[30] The government has been seen as increasingly Islamist and authoritarian,[31] with a party official stating in April 2013 that he expected the party to lose liberal support.[32][33]

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).[34] The government planned to replace the barracks and Gezi Park with a replica Ottoman-era army barracks housing a shopping mall.[35]

According to Koray Caliskan, a political scientist at Istanbul's Boğaziçi University, the protests are "a turning point for the AKP. Erdogan is a very confident and very authoritarian politician, and he doesn't listen to anyone anymore. But he needs to understand that Turkey is no kingdom, and that he cannot rule Istanbul from Ankara all by himself."[36]

Timeline

28 May

Early in the morning on 28 May around 50 people stood guard at Gezi Park to prevent its destruction.[37] 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.[38] Later the bulldozing continued, with the assistance of the Zabıta municipal police.[38] There was no physical resistance, but tear gas was used, and the protesters' tents were burned by the municipal police.[38] Sırrı Süreyya Önder then stood in front of the bulldozer and demanded to see the legal permits.[37][39] 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.[37][40]

29 May

File:Water cannon Taksim Gezi Park 2013.jpg
Police using a water cannon to disperse protesters.

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.[41] They prepared a programme for 29 May, with a 12:30 press conference and a 6 pm concert and 10 pm film showing.[42] The group continued to grow through social media. Other prominent people joined Sırrı Süreyya Önder in the protest, including Republican People's Party vice president Gürsel Tekin, the actors Gonca Vuslateri, Memet Ali Alabora, Okan Bayülgen and Şebnem Sönmez.[43] Devrim Evin, lead actor of Fetih 1453, announced on Twitter that he was not attending its 29 May premiere in protest.[43]

31 May

Sırrı Süreyya Önder was hospitalised after being hit in the shoulder by a tear gas canister.[35][44] During tear gas attacks on protesters, army soldiers were seen handing out gas masks.[45] Police continued to fire tear gas, pepper spray and water cannons at demonstrators, with more than 100 injuries reported.[46] 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.[46] The executive order regarding the earlier-decided process has been declared as 'on-hold' on 31 May 2013.[47] According to governor Hüseyin Avni Mutlu, 63 people had been arrested and detained.[17][48]

The police use of tear gas was criticised for being "indiscriminate".[17] The interior minister, Muammer Guler, said the claims of the use of disproportionate force would be investigated.[17] The Turkish Doctors Association said nearly 1000 people were injured in Istanbul, including six who lost eyes after being hit in the face by tear gas canisters.[49]

Large protests also occurred in Ankara and Izmir.[13] In Ankara, a helicopter was used to fire tear gas at the protestors,[50] and police were seen chasing demonstrators into shops with electric shock batons.[50] Clashes between protestors and security forces continued all night long in Ankara.[51] 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 by police armed with tear gas, plastic bullets and water cannons.[14][52]

1 June

Police barricade surrounding Gezi Park.

"About half past one the entire city started to reverberate. People were banging on pots, pans, blowing whistles," one eye-witness told BBC News.[53] Deputy Prime Minister Bülent Arınç criticized the use of tear gas against demontrators and stated "It would have been more helpful to try and persuade the people who said they didn't want a shopping mall, instead of spraying them with tear gas."[54]

All public transport was shut down in Istanbul. 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.[53][55]

At 3:45 pm, the police force started to withdraw from the Taksim Square, letting to protesters in. During the withdrawal, some protesters threw water bottles at the security forces, which resulted in the police use of tear gas.[56]

The protests in Ankara that began on 31 May continued.[51] The protestors, gathered mainly on the Güven Park, were also interrupted by the police officers. The roads to the Kızılay square where protestors tried to gather were closed by the security forces.[57] The security around the Başbakanlık Konutu and the Grand National Assembly of Turkey were also increased with the aid of the Turkish Gendarmerie.[58][59] The security forces left the Kızılay square later and then nearly 10,000 people gathered there.[60]

Some media sources claimed that the police started to use Agent Orange against the protesters in Beşiktaş.[61][62][63]

Injuries

  • Sırrı Süreyya Önder was hospitalised after being hit in the shoulder by a tear gas canister (31 May).[35]
  • Ahmet Şık hit in the head by a tear gas canister[64]

International reaction

Official
  • United States United States 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."[65][66]
  • United Kingdom The UK Foreign office condemned the 'indiscriminate' use of tear gas, adding "We encourage the Turkish authorities to respect the right to peaceful protest and freedom of assembly, which are fundamental human rights in any democratic society".[66]
  • European Union The European Commission likewise issued a statement saying "We condemn all excessive and disproportionate use of force."[67]
  • Syria Syrian Information Minister Omran Zoubi criticized Prime Minister Tayyip Erdoğan's way of dealing with the mass protests in Turkey.[68]
  • It is also stated by the protesters that the police started to use Agent Orange against protesters. [68]
Non-official
  • American political activist and linguist Noam Chomsky condemned the Gezi Park crackdown, stating it "recalls the most shameful moments of Turkish history."[69]
  • Slovene philosopher and cultural critic Slavoj Žižek delivered his support to the protesters through Bülent Somay who is a member of The Revolutionary Socialist Workers' Party (Turkish: Devrimci Sosyalist İşçi Partisi - DSİP).Cite error: The <ref> tag has too many names (see the help page).

Turkish media

Foreign media noted that the protests had attracted relatively little mainstream media coverage in Turkey and speculated that this may be due to government pressure.[9]

"[On the afternoon of Friday 31 May] CNN Turk was broadcasting a food show, featuring the “flavors of Nigde.” Other major Turkish news channels were showing a dance contest and a roundtable on study-abroad programs. It was a classic case of the revolution not being televised. The whole country seemed to be experiencing a cognitive disconnect, with Twitter saying one thing, the government saying another, and the television off on another planet."[35]

Kenan Doğulu took off his top on a Turkish TV show ("Elidor Miss Turkey", Star TV, 31 May) to reveal an "Occupy Gezi" T-shirt.

Picture gallery

  • Taksim Square, after police intervention (1 June 2013)
    Taksim Square, after police intervention (1 June 2013)
  • Police forces waiting for the protesters coming from İstiklal Avenue (1 June 2013)
    Police forces waiting for the protesters coming from İstiklal Avenue (1 June 2013)
  • Sıraselviler Avenue
    Sıraselviler Avenue
  • Nostalgic tram stop with broken windows on Taksim Square (1 June 2013)
    Nostalgic tram stop with broken windows on Taksim Square (1 June 2013)
  • Police forces at the İstiklal Avenue entrance (1 June 2013)
    Police forces at the İstiklal Avenue entrance (1 June 2013)
  • Gas bomb capsule on the ground
    Gas bomb capsule on the ground
  • Cameramen trying to capture views (1 June 2013)
    Cameramen trying to capture views (1 June 2013)
  • Police forces waiting at the Taksim Square
    Police forces waiting at the Taksim Square
  • Cameras
    Cameras
  • Taksim Square (1 June 2013)
    Taksim Square (1 June 2013)
  • Smokes from Taksim (1 June 2013)
    Smokes from Taksim (1 June 2013)
  • International media broadcasts (1 June 2013)
    International media broadcasts (1 June 2013)
  • Caretakers at Taksim Square
    Caretakers at Taksim Square
  • Police barriers in front of Taksim Gezi Park (1 June 2013)
    Police barriers in front of Taksim Gezi Park (1 June 2013)
  • Protests at Osmanbey (1 June 2013)
    Protests at Osmanbey (1 June 2013)
  • Elmadağ, Taksim (1 June 2013)
    Elmadağ, Taksim (1 June 2013)
  • Tarlabaşı Avenue (1 June 2013)
    Tarlabaşı Avenue (1 June 2013)
  • National media vehicles on Taksim Square
    National media vehicles on Taksim Square

Video gallery

Police forces waiting for the protesters coming from İstiklal Avenue (1 June 2013)
Smokes from Taksim (1 June 2013)
Distribution of gas masks to the street caretakers (1 June 2013)
Police intervention with tear gas (1 June 2013)
Gas bombs (1 June 2013)

See also

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. ^ "Turkey prime minister faces fury as Istanbul erupts into mass protest". The Guardian. 1 June 2013. Retrieved 1 June 2013.
  4. ^ a b "Chaos on the streets of Istanbul as police disperse 10,000 peaceful protesters". New York Post. 31 May 2013.
  5. ^ Sokollu, Senada (1 June 2013). "Solidarity with Istanbul protesters grows in Turkey and abroad". Deutsche Welle. Retrieved 1 June 2013.
  6. ^ "Trabzon, Rize ve Artvin'de 'Gezi Parkı' Protestosu". Son Dakika. 1 June 2013. Retrieved 1 June 2013.
  7. ^ Auslin, Michael (31 May 2013). "Turkey's Tiananmen Square Moment?". National Review. Retrieved 1 June 2013.
  8. ^ "Turkey police clash with Istanbul Gezi Park protesters". BBC News. 31 May 2013. Retrieved 1 June 2013.
  9. ^ a b c d e f "Turkey protests spread after violence in Istanbul over park demolition". The Guardian. 31 May 2013. Retrieved 1 June 2013.
  10. ^ Güler: Müdahale etmeyeceğiz (ntvmsnbc, 1 June 2013) "İçişleri Bakanı Güler, Gezi Parkı protestolarında ülke genelinde 939 gözaltı, 79 yaralı olduğunu söyledi. - Minister of Interior, Güler, stated that there are 939 arrests and 79 injuries in the Gezi Park demonstrations throughout the nation."
  11. ^ Ivan Watson; Gul Tuysuz (1 June 2013). "Police crackdown triggers anti-government riots". CNN. Retrieved 1 June 2013.
  12. ^ "Fresh anti-government clashes hit Turkey". Al Jazeera. 1 June 2013. Retrieved 1 June 2013.
  13. ^ a b c d "Turkey arrests anti-government protesters". Al Jazeera English. 31 May 2013. Retrieved 1 June 2013.
  14. ^ a b "Solidarity protests with Gezi Park held across Turkey". Hürriyet Daily News. 31 May 2013.
  15. ^ a b "Protesters #OccupyGezi to save Istanbul park". Al Jazeera. 31 May 2013. Retrieved 1 June 2013.
  16. ^ businessweek.com
  17. ^ a b c d "Tear gas fired at protesters in Istanbul". Telegraph. 31 May 2013. Retrieved 1 June 2013.
  18. ^ "Clashes rage for second day in Istanbul". The Gulf News. AFP. 1 June 2013. Retrieved 1 June 2013.
  19. ^ "Turkish protests: view from the ground". Euronews. 1 June 2013. Retrieved 1 June 2013.
  20. ^ Letsch, Constanze (1 June 2013). "Turkey prime minister faces fury as Istanbul erupts into mass protest". The Guardian. Retrieved 1 June 2013.
  21. ^ Ivan Watson; Gul Tuysuz (1 June 2013). "Police crackdown triggers anti-government riots". CNN. Retrieved 1 June 2013.
  22. ^ Tattersall, Nick (1 June 2013). "Turkish PM calls for immediate end to protests as clashes flare". Reuters. Retrieved 1 June 2013.
  23. ^ "Ünlüler Gezi Parkı ile ilgili Twitter'da neler söyledi?". Radikal. 31 May 2013. Retrieved 1 June 2013.
  24. ^ "Charges Against Journalists Dim the Democratic Glow in Turkey". New York Times. 4 January 2012.
  25. ^ "Alcohol in Turkey: Not so good for you". The Economist. 30 May 2013.
  26. ^ "Turkish law will make legal abortion impossible, say campaigners". The Guardian. 1 February 2013.
  27. ^ "In Erdogan's Turkey, Censorship Finds Fertile Ground". Al-Monitor. 13 January 2013.
  28. ^ "Erdogan Visit to Berlin Betrays Tensions". Spiegel Online. 2013.
  29. ^ "Main opposition urges protection of LGBT's, ruling party calls them 'immoral'". Hürriyet Daily News. 29 May 2013.
  30. ^ Emre Peker; Joe Parkinson (1 June 2013). "Turkey Prepares for More Protests". The Wall Street Journal. Istanbul. Retrieved 1 June 2013.
  31. ^ "Fresh anti-government clashes hit Turkey". Al Jazeera. 1 June 2013. Retrieved 1 June 2013.
  32. ^ Seymour, Richard (31 May 2013). "Istanbul park protests sow the seeds of a Turkish spring". The Guardian. Retrieved 1 June 2013.
  33. ^ "Turkish ruling party 'to leave liberals out'". Hürriyet Daily News. 2 April 2013. Retrieved 1 June 2013.
  34. ^ "Başbakan'dan süre pazarlığı". Hürriyet (in Turkish). 29 May 2013. Retrieved 1 June 2013.
  35. ^ a b c d New York Times, 31 May 2013, Police Attack Protesters in Istanbul’s Taksim Square
  36. ^ Letsch, Constanze (31 May 2013). "Turkey protests spread after violence in Istanbul over park demolition". The Guardian. Retrieved 1 June 2013.
  37. ^ a b c "Gezi Parkı'ndaki nöbete biber gazı". NTV (in Turkish). 28 May 2013. Retrieved 1 June 2013.
  38. ^ a b c "Raid on 'Occupy Taksim Park' demonstrators triggers outcry". Hürriyet Daily News. 30 May 2013.
  39. ^ Tönbekici, Mutlu (31 May 2013). "Has adam Sırrı Süreyya Önder". Vatan. Retrieved 1 June 2013.
  40. ^ "Taksim Gezi Parkı için nöbet tuttular". Sabah (in Turkish). 28 May 2013. Retrieved 1 June 2013.
  41. ^ "Eylemciler Gezi Parkı'nda sabahladı". Sabah (in Turkish). 29 May 2013. Retrieved 1 June 2013.
  42. ^ "Gezi Parkı'nda direniş: 29 Mayıs programı". Sendika. Retrieved 29 May 2013.
  43. ^ a b "Fetih Günü Gezi Parkı'nda eylemdeyim". NTV (in Turkish). 29 May 2013. Retrieved 1 June 2013.
  44. ^ "Sırrı Süreyya Önder hastaneden çıktı: Bunun altından kalkamazlar. Hesabını soracağız". Radikal. 31 May 2013. Retrieved 1 June 2013.
  45. ^ Template:Tr icon "Asker yardım elini uzattı". Radikal. 31 May 2013. Retrieved 1 June 2013.
  46. ^ a b "Scores injured as police clash with protesters in Istanbul". France 24. 1 June 2013.
  47. ^ Template:Tr icon "Topçu Kışlası'nda yürütmeyi durdurma kararı". Hürriyet. 1 June 2013. Retrieved 1 June 2013.
  48. ^ Tuysuz, Gul (31 May 2013). "Report: Court to hear case at center of Istanbul protests". CNN. Retrieved 1 June 2013.
  49. ^ The Guardian, 1 June 2013, Turkey protests rage for second day
  50. ^ a b "Turkish PM Erdogan calls for end to protests as clashes flare". 1 June 2013. Retrieved 1 June 2013.
  51. ^ a b "Anti-government protests continue in Ankara". ITV. 1 June 2013. Retrieved 1 June 2013.
  52. ^ "Ankara ve İzmir'deki Gezi Parkı eylemlerine gazlı müdahale". Radikal. 1 June 2013. Retrieved 1 June 2013.
  53. ^ a b "Turkey protests: Unrest rages in Istanbul and Ankara". BBC. 1 June 2013. Retrieved 1 June 2013.
  54. ^ Bar'el, Zvi (1 June 2013). "At height of political career, Edrogan's powers put to test". Haaretz. Retrieved 1 June 2013.
  55. ^ "Kıtalararası protesto!". NTVMSNCBC. 1 June 2013. Retrieved 1 June 2013.
  56. ^ "Polis Taksim'den ayrılıyor". Hürriyet. 1 June 2013. Retrieved 1 June 2013.
  57. ^ Emre Peker; Joe Parkinson; Ayla Albayrak (1 June 2013). "Protests Continue in Turkey". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 1 June 2013.
  58. ^ "Başbakanlık binasını korumak için askerlerden destek istendi". Hürriyet (in Turkish). 1 June 2013. Retrieved 1 June 2013.
  59. ^ "Başbakanlık binasını korumak için Jandarma'dan yardım istendi". Milliyet (in Turkish). 1 June 2013. Retrieved 1 June 2013.
  60. ^ "Polis Kızılay'dan çekildi (Police left Kızılay)". Hürriyet. 1 June 2013. Retrieved 1 June 2013.
  61. ^ "Turkish Riot Police Starts Using Agent Orange". CNN. 1 June 2013. Retrieved 1 June 2013.
  62. ^ Kais, Roi (1 June 2013). "Beşiktaş'ta direniş sürüyor". Retrieved 1 June 2013.
  63. ^ "Gezi Parkı'nda SON DURUM!". İnternethaber. Retrieved 1 June 2013.
  64. ^ New Yorker, Occupy Gezi: Police Against Protesters in Istanbul
  65. ^ "Turkey police clash with Istanbul Gezi Park protesters". BBC. 1 June 2013. Retrieved 1 June 2013.
  66. ^ a b Sonumut, Guldenay. "Turkey: Protesters and Police Clash over Park". SKY News. Retrieved 1 June 2013.
  67. ^ "EU voices concern over violent clashes in İstanbul's Taksim". Todays Zaman. 1 June 2013. Retrieved 1 June 2013.
  68. ^ a b Kais, Roi (1 June 2013). "Syria criticizes Erdogan: Detached, wild". Ynet News. Retrieved 1 June 2013. Cite error: The named reference "rkais1june" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  69. ^ "Gezi Park crackdown recalls 'most shameful moments of Turkish history,' says Chomsky". Hurriyet Daily News. 1 June 2013. Retrieved 1 June 2013.


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