- Title: Demonstrators protest in Bern against Turkey's government
- Date: 25th March 2017
- Summary: BERN, SWITZERLAND (MARCH 25, 2017) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF SWISS PARLIAMENT OVERLOOKING RIVER SWISS FLAG FLYING ABOVE PARLIAMENT PROTESTERS GATHERING IN FRONT OF SWISS PARLIAMENT VARIOUS OF DEMONSTRATORS PROTESTING POSTER WITH SKETCH OF TURKISH PRESIDENT AND A GUN SAYING (English): "KILL ERDOGAN WITH ITS OWN WEAPONS" VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS INCLUDING CHILDREN HOLDING FLAGS MEMBER OF SOLIDARITIES ASSOCIATION, MANUELA HONEGGER, ON STAGE DURING HER SPEECH (SOUNDBITE) (French) MEMBER OF SOLIDARITIES ASSOCIATION, MANUELA HONEGGER, SAYING: "I can say today that my Kurdish friends are under significant pressure. In Geneva, we have some cases, this is very serious what's happening for our Kurdish friends, they often come from gay and transgender movements, from sexual and other minorities in Turkey and today they are not just under pressure, but their families are visited in Turkey, so as they (Turkish authorities) can't do anything here in Switzerland, Turkish authorities put pressure on them in Turkey, where they have power. We must not be fooled and I think, in Switzerland, we are too naive to believe that our borders can stop an authoritarian regime." VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS HOLDING FLAGS WOMAN APPLAUDING PROTESTERS MAKING VICTORY SIGN CHILD CHANTING PROTESTERS WITH FLAGS (SOUNDBITE) (French) KURDISH MAN WHO HAS LIVED IN SWITZERLAND FOR 20 YEARS AS A POLITICAL REFUGEE, REZAN ZEHRE, SAYING: "We have some fears. We already feel this pressure in Turkey but here also. We are afraid to go to Turkey. Somehow, we are afraid when we arrive at the airport in Turkey that we will be arrested by Turkish authorities under false accusations." PROTEST IN PROGRESS SWISS CITIZEN FROM BALE REGION, ANDREAS BURKART, HOLDING SIGNS READING (French and English): "WHO IS AGAINST ERDOGAN BUT FOR PUTIN, IS AN HYPOCRITE!" (SOUNDBITE) (French) SWISS CITIZEN FROM BALE REGION, ANDREAS BURKART, SAYING: "Erdogan can't harm Europe too much, but of course he can harm all the Turkish and Kurdish people who live here, he spies on them. They risk a lot and I admire all the Turkish and Kurdish people who are here, who can be photographed, who speak, because they have their families in Turkey, so they risk a lot." VARIOUS OF SIGN ON GROUND READING (Turkish and German): "NO TO ERDOGAN AND ALL MISOGYNIST MEN'S SOCIETIES" BANNER READING (German): "LIVE, INDIVIDUALLY AND FREE AS A TREE, AND BE FRATERNAL LIKE A FOREST. THIS LONGING IS OURS!" PROTEST IN PROGRESS
- Embargoed: 8th April 2017 18:30
- Keywords: Bern Switzerland Tayyip Erdogan protest demonstration Kurdish
- Location: BERN, SWITZERLAND
- City: BERN, SWITZERLAND
- Country: Switzerland
- Topics: Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA00169GJN7R
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Demonstrators gathered in front of the Swiss parliament in Bern on Saturday (March 25) to protest against Turkey's president, Tayyip Erdogan.
The protests had been organised by several Kurdish associations, socialist activists and members of the left-wing movements, demanding the protection of Turkish democratic institutions and peace in Kurdistan.
Turkey's foreign ministry summoned Switzerland's deputy ambassador to Ankara on Saturday over the protest, state-run Anadolu agency reported.
Andalou said about 250 people had attended, including supporters of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) who staged a rally earlier on Saturday in Bern calling for a 'No' vote in an April referendum in Turkey that could give Erdogan sweeping new powers. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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