01:08Turkey: Anti-government protesters clean up Taksim Square
Turkey: Anti-government protesters clean up Taksim Square
Despite rainfall, anti-government protesters in Taksim Square, Istanbul, began cleaning up the streets and setting up camps on Sunday. Protesters in the square remain defiant to police force, which was used over five days of mass protests across Turkey, and say that they are the ones cleaning up the streets because it's their country and they want it back.
Among the rubbish in Taksim Square were empty tear gas canisters that police have used to disperse protesters since Friday. Some demonstrators on Saturday night had got a hold of riot police shields as part of the occupy movement that has erupted after a peaceful conservation protest turned into violent police clashes on May 31.
On Friday riot police blocked protesters' access to Taskim Gezi Park, as they began campaigning against the demolition of the park and the building of a shopping centre that would take its place. The peaceful demonstration escalated into a nation wide wave of anti-government protests as around 4000 protesters demanded the resignation of Erdogan, leader of the ruling Justice and Development Party.
Clashes between protesters and police continued on Saturday night in the Besiktas suburb of Istanbul, with civilians finding refuge in small shops. Police surrounded the area and tried to push protesters out. Demonstrators then began moving towards Besiktas Stadium, close to Taksim Square. Police forces used tear gas and water cannons to disperse the protesters from Dolmabahce Palace, where the Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's office is located.
Amnesty International reported on May 31 that Turkish authorities must order police to stop using excessive force against peaceful protesters and begin to immediately investigate reports of abuse by police. The human rights charity says at least 1000 people have been injured in the protests, and have also received reports that two people have died. The organisation, who has an office close to the Taksim area of Istanbul, has so far received 49 complaints from individuals alleging ill-treatment by police while in detention.
01:08Turkey: Anti-government protesters clean up Taksim Square
Despite rainfall, anti-government protesters in Taksim Square, Istanbul, began cleaning up the streets and setting up camps on Sunday. Protesters in the square remain defiant to police force, which was used over five days of mass protests across Turkey, and say that they are the ones cleaning up the streets because it's their country and they want it back.
Among the rubbish in Taksim Square were empty tear gas canisters that police have used to disperse protesters since Friday. Some demonstrators on Saturday night had got a hold of riot police shields as part of the occupy movement that has erupted after a peaceful conservation protest turned into violent police clashes on May 31.
On Friday riot police blocked protesters' access to Taskim Gezi Park, as they began campaigning against the demolition of the park and the building of a shopping centre that would take its place. The peaceful demonstration escalated into a nation wide wave of anti-government protests as around 4000 protesters demanded the resignation of Erdogan, leader of the ruling Justice and Development Party.
Clashes between protesters and police continued on Saturday night in the Besiktas suburb of Istanbul, with civilians finding refuge in small shops. Police surrounded the area and tried to push protesters out. Demonstrators then began moving towards Besiktas Stadium, close to Taksim Square. Police forces used tear gas and water cannons to disperse the protesters from Dolmabahce Palace, where the Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's office is located.
Amnesty International reported on May 31 that Turkish authorities must order police to stop using excessive force against peaceful protesters and begin to immediately investigate reports of abuse by police. The human rights charity says at least 1000 people have been injured in the protests, and have also received reports that two people have died. The organisation, who has an office close to the Taksim area of Istanbul, has so far received 49 complaints from individuals alleging ill-treatment by police while in detention.