The Islamist Government of Turkey is about to be overthrown.

**BadKarma** · 2013-05-31 20:23

Too many links and shit to post here. Nice user on reddit is condensing them all in this comment:

http://www.reddit.com/r/worldnews/co...out_to/ca9snoe

Twitter with up to the minute info and pics:
https://twitter.com/DirenGezi

**Buffy** · 2013-05-31 20:28

So they are going to over throw it and probably have a more extreme government take its place? That worked out so well in Iran!

**Kryssan** · 2013-05-31 20:52

This is Turkey, not Iran. They've got some experience dealing with these sorts of events ( just check out their recent - past 40 ish years - or so history ). I know I'll personally be watching events unfold as much as I can though to see where it all leads.

As others have noted, the law enforcement / military situation in Turkey is an interesting one where governments are concerned.

**Cail** · 2013-05-31 20:58

Hopefully they dont kill all the Armenians this century

**tyven** · 2013-05-31 21:31

Are any american network covering this? Everything is Oklahoma coverage which I feel bad about but come on. Its tornado season in tornado alley. End of story

**mallister** · 2013-05-31 22:21

that looks...very not good.

**Outlaw** · 2013-05-31 22:33

There isn't anything on US sites right now. I found something about it on BBC's page.

At least 12 people have been injured after Turkish police used tear gas and water cannon against protesters occupying a park in central Istanbul.

Demonstrators had held a four-day sit-in at Gezi Park, angry at plans to redevelop that part of Taksim Square.

An Istanbul court later ordered the temporary suspension of the project to uproot trees in the park.

But there is wider anger against Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the unrest has spread to Ankara.

Protests have also been reported in other cities, including Bodrum, Konya and Izmir.

The US later expressed its concern over the reported number of injuries in Istanbul.

"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,'' state department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said.

"These freedoms are crucial to any healthy democracy."

Earlier this month, riot police clashed with tens of thousands of people attempting to hold a May Day march in Istanbul.

What started out as an environmental protest in Istanbul became anti-government in tone, correspondents say.

The controversial redevelopment project is aimed at easing congestion around Taksim Square but also involves building a shopping centre over Gezi Park.

Opponents of Mr Erdogan's plans say the park is one of the few green areas left in central Istanbul.

One banner at Friday's protest included a cartoon of Mr Erdogan dressed as an Ottoman sultan with the slogan: "The people will not bow down to you."

"We do not have a government, we have Tayyip Erdogan," political scientist and protester Koray Caliskan told the Reuters news agency.

"They are not listening to us," he added. "This is the beginning of a summer of discontent."

A dozen people have reportedly been admitted to hospital in Istanbul following Friday's clashes.

Hurriyet Daily News reported that seven of those wounded had serious injuries, including a broken leg and head injuries.

A journalist was hit in the head with a tear-gas canister and Hurriyet's own photographer was injured, it added.

There are also reports that foreigners were among those injured.

In all, more than 60 people were arrested.

In Ankara, protesters staged what they described as a solidarity rally, with many participants chanting: "Everywhere is resistance, everywhere is Taksim!"

Mr Erdogan has stressed that he is determined to go ahead with the redevelopment project in Istanbul.

Amnesty International condemned the police's tactics against "peaceful protesters".

"The Turkish authorities must order police to halt any excessive use of force and urgently investigate all reports of abuse," said John Dalhuisen, director of Amnesty's Europe and Central Asia Programme.

"They have a duty to ensure that people can exercise their right to free expression and assembly."

Mr Erdogan has been in power since 2002 and some in Turkey have complained that his government is becoming increasingly authoritarian.

Last week, Turkey's parliament approved legislation restricting the sale and consumption of alcoholic drinks.

The regulations would prohibit retail sales between 22:00 and 06:00, ban all alcohol advertising and promotion, and stop new shops and bars from opening within 100m (330ft) of schools and mosques.

Mr Erdogan said he wanted to stop young Turks from "wandering about in a state of inebriation" and was not trying to impose Islamic values.

The prime minister's Justice and Development (AK) Party has its roots in political Islam, but he says he is committed to Turkey's state secularism.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-22732139

**Mazmaz** · 2013-05-31 23:14

This title pisses me off. It's like saying occupy was when the government of the United States was about to be overthrown.

**Andalusian girls** · 2013-06-01 00:40

their government isn't Islamist and it isn't about to be overthrown

i mean ya typical reddit sensationalism but come on

http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/orig...e-demands.html

there's a real article if anyone wants to read it. there are serious protests, and some mild violence in the streets, because the very conservative, but democratically elected, Turkish parliament is attempting to shove through a few culturally conservative bills (primarily regarding alcohol, though none of the bills even begin to contemplate prohibition) + they appear to be fucking up the Kurdish peace process when public opinion in Turkey overwhelmingly favors a settlement with the Kurds, but, they're not exactly turning into Saudi Arabia or Iran and it isn't exactly a storming of the Bastille.

**Outlaw** · 2013-06-01 02:04

^Agreed. The pictures coming out of this are hilarious though.

http://s4.reutersmedia.net/resources...TRRPP_0_TURKEY
http://s4.reutersmedia.net/resources...TRRPP_0_TURKEY http://s4.reutersmedia.net/resources...TRRPP_0_TURKEY
http://s4.reutersmedia.net/resources...TRRPP_0_TURKEY

Look familiar?

http://s4.reutersmedia.net/resources...URKEY-PROTESTS

lol

**Mayareira** · 2013-06-01 03:36

I can cleraly say that this is the most serious political movement I've recently seen in the country. The government attempted to chop down some trees in a park, some people did an "occupy" movement, police used tear gas and now the entire city is fighting for them.

But the protesters aren't attempting to overthrow the government or anything, they aren't violent, no lethal force is being used by either side. It seems to me that they'll end up finding a middle way, perhaps the president will step in and cancel the "improvements" to be done in the park. The court has already issued a statement that it should stop so...

Ultimately, this should be a clear answer for the government that they will have to listen to the people. And perhaps, if managed well, a huge step for the opposing parties in the next elections...after all the current government won with a landslide.

And yes, this girl is just...boss.

http://i1027.photobucket.com/albums/...u-3330517.jpeg

Update: The opposing leader, Kilicdaroglu will commence a movement from the Asian side to European side, with probably tens of thousands of people. A support like this should clearly force the government to back down.

**Mayareira** · 2013-06-01 08:33

Update: The city center is completely under control of the protesters.

This is probably the most democratic political movement in the world in recent years, such a huge number of population from the completely opposite side of the political party in charge, protesting without any violence but with very clear message.

The police was asked by the president to avoid any unnecessary action against the protesters.

Protester vs. Police
http://i1027.photobucket.com/albums/..._mf1482275.jpg

**Blubbartron** · 2013-06-01 09:44

One of my coworkers is from Turkey and was talking about how the police were setting tents on fire (people camped out in the park to protest). He showed pictures on his tablet of a giant fucking blaze. Also claimed several people had been killed (by cops), based on facebook posts he was seeing from people actually there. There's quite a large gap between what he described and what I've seen presented here. Now I get to wonder if my coworker is crazy or if people are woefully misinformed here. Yay.

**mightyg** · 2013-06-01 09:57

From the reporting I've listened to, people seem to be upset about not just the public park area being torn down to make room for shopping malls (park is one of few open green spaces still left in the city/has protest significance tahrir square-ish), but also the police responses over the past week. Not sure if that really translates into a full on anti government rebellion, but obviously there's gonna be some of that since it's the presidents call to buckle down and place dat shopping mall there.

**Mayareira** · 2013-06-01 10:01

Tents were set on fire on the very first day after the area was free of protesters, which triggered the response. There were serious clashes on the first 2 days with the police and completely one sided (excessive force was used by the police, too much tear gas used mostly.) But there are no deaths. The misinformation on first day was intense so your co-worker was probably right to panic.

Currently, the area is completely free of the police. Protesters will face the danger of "lack of an aim", especially if the government continues to play the "do whatever you want, we don't care, we respect your democratic rights and we care about you" card.

people seem to be upset about not just the public park area being torn down to make room for shopping malls (park is one of few open green spaces still left in the city/has protest significance tahrir square-ish), but also the police responses over the past week.

This is correct as well. Police response, shopping mall and the recent alcohol restrictions (cannot buy alcohol from stores between 10 PM - 6 AM, cannot drink openly on streets, though you are free to drink in restaurants, and of course at home as long as you buy it on daytime).

Istanbul actually has plenty of green and forests but in Taksim region, yes that is the only park (to compare, both architecture and people-wise Taksim/Beyoglu is very similar to Paris). In addition to that, Taksim is the most liberal region of the city and the people there are more inclined to protest.

**Shade** · 2013-06-01 11:36

Making the rounds on tumblr.
Pics w/ text:

Spoiler: show

**Kryssan** · 2013-06-01 12:10

There most assuredly will not a rebellion that accomplishes anything along the lines of government 'refreshment' without action by the TAF. Given the events coinciding with Balyoz Harekâtı ( Sledgehammer ), I find that aspect to currently be what holds my interest. I've never been that much on the nuances of politics and the causes / effects, but military action is a different story for me. So far the military is staying out of it, and we've only seen aggressive action taken by law enforcement groups. The military is purportedly 'hanging loose' atm.

Given the AKP's reported support numbers increasing per election cycle and the current boon Turkey has been experiencing, one wonders. I don't know specifically how much of the government remains secularist in nature though, in reference to other comments, given the general interpretation and acceptance that the AKP is Islamist. Their parliament is a different story currently, seeing as the latest election brought Turk / Kurd groups into it.

**Rhinox** · 2013-06-01 12:51

totally not trolling here(at least not meant to be)

Spoiler: show

**BadKarma** · 2013-06-01 13:15

http://vimeo.com/67432788

**Drex** · 2013-06-01 13:37

Originally Posted by Rhinox

totally not trolling here(at least not meant to be)

Spoiler: show

"Awareness" has always been a rather weak construct that activists gun for because it's easier than change. It sets a low hurdle, like the student letting everyone know he didn't study right before the test. Hey, if something good happens, great, but at least it's not my fault if I fail. Relocating the awareness to a foreign country makes it even less effective.

You know what creates awareness quickly and sprays some WD40 on the wheels of change? Throwing rocks. It also makes people care, which awareness does not (changing a facebook profile pic doesn't mean you care, random guy on my newsfeed). Look at Egypt.

Then again, the change that comes isn't always what you had in mind. The destruction is the easy part. See post-rev Egypt.

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