TURKEY: Crowds gather in Istanbul for the funeral of a teenage boy who died on Tuesday from wounds he received last summer in an anti-government demonstration

Record ID: 859259

  • Title: TURKEY: Crowds gather in Istanbul for the funeral of a teenage boy who died on Tuesday from wounds he received last summer in an anti-government demonstration
  • Date: 12th March 2014
  • Summary: ISTANBUL, TURKEY (MARCH 12, 2014) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS IN STREET VARIOUS OF CROWD IN FRONT OF ALEVI RELIGIOUS CENTRE VARIOUS OF CROWD VARIOUS OF PEOPLE INSIDE RELIGIOUS CENTRE, LOOKING THROUGH WINDOWS (SOUNDBITE) (Turkish) PROTESTER, BINALI ATASEVER, SAYING: "Lots of children had been killed so far, and Berkin was the last of them. We do not want anyone to be killed. No-one here wants it. But they try to kill people, they try to block their democratic protest right. No-one came here to clash with the police." VARIOUS OF CROWD IN STREET (SOUNDBITE) (Turkish) PROTESTER, TAYLAN CELIK, SAYING: "He went to buy bread at the age of 14 and now his dead body is being brought back home. We want all this to end. We do not want any incidents like this to happen in our country. People cannot be named as separatists just because they say what their human rights are." BARRICADES ON STREET VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS NEXT TO BARRICADES
  • Embargoed: 27th March 2014 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Turkey
  • City:
  • Country: Turkey
  • Topics: Domestic Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVANSOXN7HXM98LRR91XQNT2SSO
  • Aspect Ratio:
  • Story Text: Several thousand mourners gathered in central Istanbul on Wednesday (March 12) for the funeral of a teenage boy wounded during anti-government demonstrations last summer whose death on Tuesday triggered protests across Turkey.
    Protesters set up barricades around the Alevi religious centre where Elvan's coffin was placed ahead of the ceremony, to avoid possible police intervention in the area.

    "Berkin is our honour. He is immortal", "a mother's anger will kill the murderers" and "Everywhere is Berkin, everywhere is resistance", the crowd chanted in the Istanbul district of Okmeydani, where Elvan's funeral was due to take place.
    Protesters stood by fires at barricades blocking roads around the area. Signs on shop windows said stores would remain shut for two days, while traders sold black and white flags bearing Berkin's face.

    "Lots of children had been killed so far, and Berkin was the last of them. We do not want anyone to be killed. No-one here wants it. But they try to kill people, they try to block their democratic protest right. No-one came here to clash with the police," said protester, Binali Atasever.
    Berkin Elvan, then aged 14, became caught up in street battles in Istanbul between police and protesters on June 16 while going to buy bread for his family. He slipped into a coma and became a rallying point for government opponents.

    "He went to buy bread at the age of 14 and now his dead body is being brought back home. We want all this to end. We do not want any incidents like this to happen in our country. People cannot be named as separatists just because they say what their human rights are," said protester Taylan Celik.
    Riot police fired water cannon and tear gas on thousands of demonstrators in several cities overnight, adding to pre-election worries for Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan as he battles a corruption scandal that has become one of the biggest challenges of his decade in power.
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