Protests in Turkey

+972’s original reporting and posts from Taksim Square and the anti-government protests in Istanbul.

People stand on Taksim square in Istanbul during a wave of new alternative protests, June 18, 2013. Photo by: Oren Ziv/Activestills.org

PHOTOS: ‘Stand-still’ protests quietly take over Taksim Square

Text and photos by Oren Ziv/Activestills.org Turkish choreographer Erdem Gunduz stood unnoticed in Taksim Square for several hours on Tuesday before his presence at Istanbul’s flashpoint was announced on the social network Twitter and went viral. Hundreds soon joined his protest in solidarity. Later, Turkish police intervened, clearing the square and arresting several demonstrators. On Wednesday, hundreds came…

By Activestills June 19, 2013

A demonstrator burning from a molotov intended to be thrown toward the police during Turkey's riot police raid on Taksim Square, Istanbul, June 11, 2013.
Photo by: Oren Ziv/Activestills.org

From Taksim protests to Women in Black: A week in photos – June 7 – June 12

This week: anti-government protesters continue to clash with riot police in Gezi Park near Taksim Square in Istanbul, Turkey, Israeli police arrest social protesters in Jerusalem and the Angry Grandmothers make a (singing) return to mark the 46th anniversary of the Israeli occupation. …

By Activestills June 14, 2013

A woman reacts to tear gas, as police evict Taksim Square for the second time on Tuesday. June 11, 2013. (Oren Ziv/Activestills.org)

PHOTOS: Turkish police take over Taksim Square, push back protesters

After nearly two weeks of holding Istanbul’s central square, Turkish police raided and took back Taksim Square from protesters Tuesday, pushing the protest camp back into Gezi Park where the demonstrations began in late May. Photos and text by Oren Ziv ISTANBUL — Turkish police took over Taksim Square Tuesday morning, pushing the anti-government protests…

By Activestills June 12, 2013

Latest

A protester wears a gas mask, as youth gather in Taksim square in center Istanbul, Turkey, on early morning of June 3, 2013. Police fired tear gas at activists, after they set up barricades around the square, and tired to march to the direction of the local soccer stadium. Photo by: Oren Ziv/ Activestills.org

Protests in Turkey: How I became a ‘marginal, alcoholic looter’

How did a modest student protest against the destruction of a park in Istanbul turn into one of the biggest protests in Turkey’s recent history? A personal story from Taksim Square. By Anonymous Gezi Park, in the heart of Taksim Square, was one of the last remaining green areas in Istanbul. The decision to demolish it in order…

By +972 Magazine June 7, 2013

Turkish policemen arrest protesters during clashes following an anti government demonstration, near Kizilay square, Ankara on June 5, 2013.

PHOTOS: Ankara protests grow as Istanbul clashes subside

Photos and text by Oren Ziv and Yotam Ronen Istanbul: Police and protesters did not clash in Istanbul on Thursday night for the first time since the anti-government demonstrations began. Inside Gezi Park, protesters created different systems to serve the thousands of inhabitants, including: a medical clinic, library, a space where supporters can donate food and…

By Activestills June 7, 2013

PHOTOS: Anti-government protests swell in Turkey’s capital

Photos and text by Yotam Ronen/Activestills.org Turkey’s capital, Ankara, last night saw a rise in the numbers of participants in the anti-government demonstrations that erupted across the country over the past week. Around 1,000 people participated in Monday’s demo in Kizliay, the capital’s main square, while approximately 8,000 joined Tuesday night’s protest, as workers unions called…

By Activestills June 5, 2013

PHOTOS: Turkey’s protests grow as labor unions join

Photos by: Oren Ziv/Activestills.org Protests continued in Istanbul’s Gezi Park and Taskim Square amid intense use of tear gas and other forms of excessive force by Turkish police forces. Left-wing labor unions on Tuesday joined the protests, which began on May 28 over plans to redevelop Gezi Park but have spread to other cities and…

By Activestills June 4, 2013

PHOTOS: Demonstrators occupy Istanbul’s Taskim Square

Demonstrators in Turkey held their ground in Istanbul early Monday morning, after several days of protests against Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and a host of issues, ranging from the destruction of municipal parks to infringements on the country’s secular character. In the early morning hours of Monday, June 3, protesters managed to barricade an…

By Activestills June 3, 2013