What started as a peaceful sit-in over plans to
demolish a park in central Istanbul has grown to become the biggest protest
movement against Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan since he was elected
more than 10 years ago.
demolish a park in central Istanbul has grown to become the biggest protest
movement against Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan since he was elected
more than 10 years ago.
What prompted the protests?
Gezi Park sits in Istanbul’s main commercial
district and is the last green space in the city center. So, it didn’t go down
well with many residents when authorities announced they want to raze the park
and put in its place a replica of 19th Century Ottoman barracks — containing a
shopping mall.
district and is the last green space in the city center. So, it didn’t go down
well with many residents when authorities announced they want to raze the park
and put in its place a replica of 19th Century Ottoman barracks — containing a
shopping mall.
On Friday, a district court ordered a temporary
stop to any construction. Mayor Kadir Topbas emphasized the park demolition was
not related to the shopping mall project, but was a part of a wider renovation
project of Taksim Square.
stop to any construction. Mayor Kadir Topbas emphasized the park demolition was
not related to the shopping mall project, but was a part of a wider renovation
project of Taksim Square.
But many of
the demonstrators say their anger is no longer directed against the proposed
government plan. In Istanbul, the crowds have been chanting “Tayyip
resign” — referring to Erdogan — and “shoulder to shoulder against
fascism.”
the demonstrators say their anger is no longer directed against the proposed
government plan. In Istanbul, the crowds have been chanting “Tayyip
resign” — referring to Erdogan — and “shoulder to shoulder against
fascism.”
On Tuesday, the KESK confederation of public sector
workers –representing 240,000 members — called a two-day strike to protest
what it called the “facism” of Erdogan’s governing party.
workers –representing 240,000 members — called a two-day strike to protest
what it called the “facism” of Erdogan’s governing party.
Why did the demonstrations turn violent?
At first, the protests involved a handful of angry
residents holding sit-ins. But the numbers quickly grew. Riot police moved in,
lobbing tear gas and pepper spray and protesters responded by hurling bottles,
blocking bulldozers and setting up barricades. Then, outraged by the behavior
of security forces, demonstrators began attacking police.
residents holding sit-ins. But the numbers quickly grew. Riot police moved in,
lobbing tear gas and pepper spray and protesters responded by hurling bottles,
blocking bulldozers and setting up barricades. Then, outraged by the behavior
of security forces, demonstrators began attacking police.
International human rights groups Amnesty International
and Greenpeace have denounced what they describe as the excessive use of police
force against peaceful protesters.
and Greenpeace have denounced what they describe as the excessive use of police
force against peaceful protesters.
A spokesman for European Union foreign policy chief
Catherine Ashton issued a statement that said Ashton “regrets
disproportionate use of force by members of the Turkish police.” Ashton
also called for talks between the two sides.
Catherine Ashton issued a statement that said Ashton “regrets
disproportionate use of force by members of the Turkish police.” Ashton
also called for talks between the two sides.
Erdogan conceded Saturday that Turkish security
forces had made excessive use of tear gas against demonstrators.
forces had made excessive use of tear gas against demonstrators.
“There have been errors in the actions of the
security forces, especially with regard to use of pepper gas. Right now that is
being investigated, researched,” he said.
security forces, especially with regard to use of pepper gas. Right now that is
being investigated, researched,” he said.
“There is an error there, sure. When it is
used excessively we are against it as well. And in fact there was such
excess.”
used excessively we are against it as well. And in fact there was such
excess.”
However, on Monday, Erdogan dismissed allegations
that security forces used excessive force, and denied that Turkey could be on
the cusp of its own “Arab Spring.” “We are servants of the
people, not masters. We did not use violence,” he said before leaving for
a four-day trip to North Africa.
that security forces used excessive force, and denied that Turkey could be on
the cusp of its own “Arab Spring.” “We are servants of the
people, not masters. We did not use violence,” he said before leaving for
a four-day trip to North Africa.
On Tuesday, Turkey’s semi-official news agency
Andalou quoted Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc as saying the country’s
security and intelligence forces were working to prevent the escalation of
violence.
Andalou quoted Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc as saying the country’s
security and intelligence forces were working to prevent the escalation of
violence.
“They are doing a hard job. When they are
executing their jobs, they may sometimes use extraordinary even excessive use
of force. But they wait in a passive mode unless something comes from the other
side,” Arinc said. He said security forces had been ordered to only use
gas in self-defense.
executing their jobs, they may sometimes use extraordinary even excessive use
of force. But they wait in a passive mode unless something comes from the other
side,” Arinc said. He said security forces had been ordered to only use
gas in self-defense.
How widespread are the protests?
Since Friday, there have been protests in 67 of
Turkey’s 81 provinces, according to Andalou. There have been reports of
confrontations in the capital, Ankara, as well as the port cities of Izmir and
Adana.
Turkey’s 81 provinces, according to Andalou. There have been reports of
confrontations in the capital, Ankara, as well as the port cities of Izmir and
Adana.
The Turkish Medical Association claimed that at least
3,195 people had been injured in clashes Sunday and Monday. Only 26 of them
were in serious or critical condition, it said.
3,195 people had been injured in clashes Sunday and Monday. Only 26 of them
were in serious or critical condition, it said.
One protester, Mehmet Ayvalitas, died of his
injuries, the association said. And the governor of Hatay in southeastern
Turkey said that a 22-year-old man, Abdulah Comert, was killed with a firearm
by unknown suspects during demonstrations late Monday, Andalou reported.
injuries, the association said. And the governor of Hatay in southeastern
Turkey said that a 22-year-old man, Abdulah Comert, was killed with a firearm
by unknown suspects during demonstrations late Monday, Andalou reported.
More than 700 people have been detained since
Tuesday last week, and most have been released, it said.
Tuesday last week, and most have been released, it said.
Why do the protesters want Erdogan to step down?
The police crackdown on the park demonstrators set
off the wider unrest. Now, the scope of the protests shows there is a bigger
issue, about freedom of speech and accusations of heavy-handed government, at
stake.
off the wider unrest. Now, the scope of the protests shows there is a bigger
issue, about freedom of speech and accusations of heavy-handed government, at
stake.
Elected to power than a decade ago, Erdogan is the
most powerful and popular politician Turkey has seen in generations, but his
approach to leadership doesn’t sit well with all Turks, said Asli Aydintasbas,
a columnist for Milliyet Newspaper.
most powerful and popular politician Turkey has seen in generations, but his
approach to leadership doesn’t sit well with all Turks, said Asli Aydintasbas,
a columnist for Milliyet Newspaper.
“We have a prime minister who has done great
deeds and he really has run the economy well,” she said. “But you
also have this paternalistic style: ‘I know what’s good for you. I, as your
father, can decide on the park, the bridge, the city and the constitution.’ So,
I think people are just wanting to have a more inclusive form of democracy in
Turkey.”
deeds and he really has run the economy well,” she said. “But you
also have this paternalistic style: ‘I know what’s good for you. I, as your
father, can decide on the park, the bridge, the city and the constitution.’ So,
I think people are just wanting to have a more inclusive form of democracy in
Turkey.”
Tuncay, a 28-year-old demonstrator, told Breeze
Magazine on Saturday. “The Erdogan government is usually considered as
authoritarian. He has a big ego; he has this Napoleon syndrome. He takes
himself as a sultan… He needs to stop doing that.
Magazine on Saturday. “The Erdogan government is usually considered as
authoritarian. He has a big ego; he has this Napoleon syndrome. He takes
himself as a sultan… He needs to stop doing that.
He’s just a prime
minister.”
minister.”
How has Erdogan reacted?
A defiant Erdogan shows no inclination to give in
to protesters’ demands.
to protesters’ demands.
On Monday, Erdogan said: “Those in Turkey who
speak of the Turkish Spring are right; the season is, in fact, spring,” he
said. “But there are those trying to turn it into a winter.”
speak of the Turkish Spring are right; the season is, in fact, spring,” he
said. “But there are those trying to turn it into a winter.”
He said opponents who had failed to defeat his
party in elections were trying to beat it “by other means.” “The
issue of trees in Gezi Park thing is just the trigger,” he said.
party in elections were trying to beat it “by other means.” “The
issue of trees in Gezi Park thing is just the trigger,” he said.
Fadi Hakura, associate fellow and manager of the Turkey
Project at London-based think-tank Chatham House, said demonstrations were not
equivalent to the uprisings that led to the toppling of other Arab leaders two
years ago.
Project at London-based think-tank Chatham House, said demonstrations were not
equivalent to the uprisings that led to the toppling of other Arab leaders two
years ago.
“Unlike Egypt and other Arab countries, Turkey
is a functioning, albeit incomplete, democracy and has been since 1950,”
he said.
is a functioning, albeit incomplete, democracy and has been since 1950,”
he said.
“Erdogan received a resounding mandate of
almost half the vote in the last general elections in 2011. He still remains
the most popular politician in Turkey, while the opposition is widely seen by
many Turks as weak and ineffective.”
almost half the vote in the last general elections in 2011. He still remains
the most popular politician in Turkey, while the opposition is widely seen by
many Turks as weak and ineffective.”
Hakura said the protests coincided with a
“rapidly slowing economy” and “the ultimate determinant of
Erdogan’s staying power will be the state of the Turkish economy rather than
anti-government demonstrations.”
“rapidly slowing economy” and “the ultimate determinant of
Erdogan’s staying power will be the state of the Turkish economy rather than
anti-government demonstrations.”
So is Erdogan authoritarian?
In November 2012, Erdogan won leadership of his
Justice and Development Party, or AKP, for the third time, reaching the party’s
term limit.
Justice and Development Party, or AKP, for the third time, reaching the party’s
term limit.
However, the AKP’s internal constitution was
amended during the party congress to allow parliamentarians who have already
served three terms — such as Erdogan — to be re-elected after sitting out an
election cycle.
amended during the party congress to allow parliamentarians who have already
served three terms — such as Erdogan — to be re-elected after sitting out an
election cycle.
“One of the most important aspects of the
convention was the message that the prime minister is not going anywhere,”
Suat Kiniklioglu, a former AKP parliamentarian and director of the Strategic
Communication Center based in Ankara, wrote in an e-mail to Breeze Magazine at
the time.
convention was the message that the prime minister is not going anywhere,”
Suat Kiniklioglu, a former AKP parliamentarian and director of the Strategic
Communication Center based in Ankara, wrote in an e-mail to Breeze Magazine at
the time.
“Instead he will try to become a president who
can maintain his party affiliation, or will try to change the system into a
presidential or semi-presidential system,” he said.
can maintain his party affiliation, or will try to change the system into a
presidential or semi-presidential system,” he said.
Has religion played any role in the unrest?
Hakura says the protests partially reflect
“the deep ideological polarization between secular, liberal-minded Turks,
and the more religious Turks.”
“the deep ideological polarization between secular, liberal-minded Turks,
and the more religious Turks.”
The modern Republic of Turkey was founded in 1923
by Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, who instituted secular laws to replace traditional
religious orders.
by Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, who instituted secular laws to replace traditional
religious orders.
“Secular Turks complain that the
Islamist-rooted government is intolerant of criticism and the diversity of
lifestyles,” he says and “so far, Erdogan’s robust and muscular
stance vis-à-vis the demonstrators has reinforced those perceptions.”
Islamist-rooted government is intolerant of criticism and the diversity of
lifestyles,” he says and “so far, Erdogan’s robust and muscular
stance vis-à-vis the demonstrators has reinforced those perceptions.”
Erdogan describes his AKP party as a
“conservative democratic” party but some fear the AKP’s conservative
Islamic values are encroaching on Turkey’s traditional secularism.
“conservative democratic” party but some fear the AKP’s conservative
Islamic values are encroaching on Turkey’s traditional secularism.
Writing for Hurriyet Daily News, Yusuf Kanli said
an “arrogant” Erdogan had taken a series of wrong steps ahead of the
protests, including passing legislation that placed additional restrictions on
the sale and consumption of alcohol.
an “arrogant” Erdogan had taken a series of wrong steps ahead of the
protests, including passing legislation that placed additional restrictions on
the sale and consumption of alcohol.
Erdogan had referred to “two boozers” who
had introduced liberal alcohol laws, Kanli said.
had introduced liberal alcohol laws, Kanli said.
“That was an obvious reference to Mustafa
Kemal Ataturk, the diehard secular founding father of the republic, and his
comrade in arms and second president Ismet Inonu,” he wrote.
Kemal Ataturk, the diehard secular founding father of the republic, and his
comrade in arms and second president Ismet Inonu,” he wrote.
Culture wars frequently pit Turkey’s ruling Muslim
elite against more secular segments of Turkish society.
elite against more secular segments of Turkish society.
The AKP narrowly avoided being banned from politics
in 2008 when it was fined by the country’s constitutional court for alleged
anti-secular activities. The court has also blocked legislation to lift a ban
on Islamic headscarves at public universities.
in 2008 when it was fined by the country’s constitutional court for alleged
anti-secular activities. The court has also blocked legislation to lift a ban
on Islamic headscarves at public universities.
Last month, there was an outcry in social media and
newspaper columns when Turkish Airlines — which is 49% government-owned — announced
it was banning certain shades of lipstick and nail polish among flight
attendants.
newspaper columns when Turkish Airlines — which is 49% government-owned — announced
it was banning certain shades of lipstick and nail polish among flight
attendants.
A similar uproar had ensued when the company announced
it would stop serving alcohol on a number of domestic and international routes.
it would stop serving alcohol on a number of domestic and international routes.
Do Turks have freedom of speech?
On June 3, the Committee to Protect Journalists quoted
news accounts and local journalists as saying the press had “come under
fire from both government officials and protesters” during the
demonstrations.
news accounts and local journalists as saying the press had “come under
fire from both government officials and protesters” during the
demonstrations.
It referred to criticism of social media and news
outlets by Erdogan, saying “when top government officials make anti-media
statements, hostility against journalists is interpreted as allowed, even
approved,” and urged him to publicly denounce violence against
journalists.
outlets by Erdogan, saying “when top government officials make anti-media
statements, hostility against journalists is interpreted as allowed, even
approved,” and urged him to publicly denounce violence against
journalists.
In 2012, the organization said there were 49
imprisoned journalists in Turkey, making it one of the world’s “worst
jailers of the press,” alongside Iran and China.
imprisoned journalists in Turkey, making it one of the world’s “worst
jailers of the press,” alongside Iran and China.
Last month, Emma Sinclair-Webb, from Human Rights Watch,
said that one of Turkey’s “most fundamental human rights problems is in
fact intolerance of free speech.”
said that one of Turkey’s “most fundamental human rights problems is in
fact intolerance of free speech.”
“Politicians regularly sue journalists for
defamation. Editors and publishers are mostly unwilling to permit much
criticism of the government for fear of harming their bosses’ other business
interests,” Sinclair-Webb said.
defamation. Editors and publishers are mostly unwilling to permit much
criticism of the government for fear of harming their bosses’ other business
interests,” Sinclair-Webb said.
“The European Court of Human Rights has found
over and over that Turkey has violated free speech. But prosecutors, courts,
and government figures are still applying different standards to Turkey,
muzzling views they don’t want to hear,” she said.
over and over that Turkey has violated free speech. But prosecutors, courts,
and government figures are still applying different standards to Turkey,
muzzling views they don’t want to hear,” she said.
Turkey applied to join the European Union in 1987.
In a 2012 progress report, The European Commission said “important reforms
are needed to strengthen human rights structures and the number of criminal
proceedings brought against human rights defenders is a matter of
concern.”
In a 2012 progress report, The European Commission said “important reforms
are needed to strengthen human rights structures and the number of criminal
proceedings brought against human rights defenders is a matter of
concern.”
It said an increase in violations of freedom of
expression also raised “serious concerns” with “pressure on the
press by state officials and the firing of critical journalists” leading
to widespread self-censorship.
expression also raised “serious concerns” with “pressure on the
press by state officials and the firing of critical journalists” leading
to widespread self-censorship.
In a statement on its website, Turkey’s Ministry of
Foreign Affairs says promotion and protection of human rights are “among
the priority policy objectives of Turkey.”
Foreign Affairs says promotion and protection of human rights are “among
the priority policy objectives of Turkey.”
“In this regard, Turkey has been going through
a comprehensive reform process in recent years with a view to further
strengthening democracy, consolidating the rule of law and ensuring respect for
fundamental rights and freedoms.”
a comprehensive reform process in recent years with a view to further
strengthening democracy, consolidating the rule of law and ensuring respect for
fundamental rights and freedoms.”
Erdogan’s chief adviser, Ibrahim Kalin, said
Saturday that the protesters had a right to express their discontent, within
limits.
Saturday that the protesters had a right to express their discontent, within
limits.
“People are entitled to disagreement with the
government; they can exercise their democratic rights, but they can do so
within the context of a democratic society,” he said.
government; they can exercise their democratic rights, but they can do so
within the context of a democratic society,” he said.
Is it safe to visit Turkey at the moment?
Britain’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has
advised British nationals to avoid all demonstrations “following recent
demonstrations in Istanbul and other cities in Turkey in which police used tear
gas and water cannons,” but it has not told its citizens to avoid travel
to Istanbul.
advised British nationals to avoid all demonstrations “following recent
demonstrations in Istanbul and other cities in Turkey in which police used tear
gas and water cannons,” but it has not told its citizens to avoid travel
to Istanbul.
The U.S. has also warned its citizens to beware of
demonstrations, in Turkey, which is one of Washington’s key allies in the
Middle East. “U.S. citizens traveling or residing in Turkey should be
alert to the potential for violence, avoid those areas where disturbances have
occurred, and avoid demonstrations and large gatherings.”
demonstrations, in Turkey, which is one of Washington’s key allies in the
Middle East. “U.S. citizens traveling or residing in Turkey should be
alert to the potential for violence, avoid those areas where disturbances have
occurred, and avoid demonstrations and large gatherings.”
Australia advised its citizens to “avoid
protests and demonstrations throughout Turkey as they may become violent.”
protests and demonstrations throughout Turkey as they may become violent.”
Meantime, war-torn Syria has warned its citizens
not to visit its neighbor.
not to visit its neighbor.
”The Foreign and Expatriates Ministry advises the
Syrian citizens against traveling to Turkey during this period for fear for
their safety, due to the security conditions in some Turkish cities that have
deteriorated over the past days and the violence practiced by Erdogan’s
government against peaceful protesters,” it said in a statement Sunday.
Syrian citizens against traveling to Turkey during this period for fear for
their safety, due to the security conditions in some Turkish cities that have
deteriorated over the past days and the violence practiced by Erdogan’s
government against peaceful protesters,” it said in a statement Sunday.
