TURKEY: Crowds of anti-government protesters hold another night of silent protest in Istanbul's Taksim Square, inspired by a symbolic 'Standing Man' vigil

Record ID: 862848

  • Title: TURKEY: Crowds of anti-government protesters hold another night of silent protest in Istanbul's Taksim Square, inspired by a symbolic 'Standing Man' vigil
  • Date: 21st June 2013
  • Summary: ISTANBUL, TURKEY (JUNE 20, 2013) (REUTERS) VIEW OF TAKSIM SQUARE VARIOUS OF PEOPLE STANDING STILL MORE OF PEOPLE STANDING STILL NAMES OF PROTESTERS KILLED DURING CLASHES WITH SHOES ON THE GROUND VARIOUS OF A MAN STAGING SILENT PROTEST AND READING A BOOK (SOUNDBITE) (Turkish) TURKISH PROTESTER, AHMET TEZEL, SAYING: "We are protesting the government. We shouldn't have experienced such cruelty, such torture. We were exposed to disproportionate force. If I will show you my back you will understand what I mean." VARIOUS OF PEOPLE STANDING STILL AND HOLDING UP BANNERS PEOPLE STANDING STILL MORE OF SILENT PROTESTS UNDERWAY
  • Embargoed: 6th July 2013 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Turkey
  • City:
  • Country: Turkey
  • Topics: Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVAB6TE2OXIQVLRLWXCG1GQS0XES
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  • Story Text: Standing protests were underway in Istanbul's Taksim Square on Thursday evening (June 20), with people standing silently, reading books or holding up anti-government banners.
    The peaceful approach to demonstrating, inspired by a symbolic "Standing Man" vigil, has drawn hundreds during night demonstrations in recent days.
    Protesters lined up four pairs of shoes along the square with printed names of those killed as a result of violent clashes.
    One of the protesters slammed the government's response to the peaceful protests on the first days of the unrest.

    "We are protesting the government. We shouldn't have experienced such cruelty, such torture. We were exposed to disproportionate force. If I will show you my back you will understand what I mean," Ahmet Tezel said.
    Turkey's deputy prime minister said on Wednesday (June 19) that he had no objection to silent anti-government protests. His comments could help draw the sting out of three weeks of often violent demonstrations.
    Protests against Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan's government have become increasingly creative in recent days, as police and demonstrators seek to avoid the fierce clashes that have dented Turkey's reputation for stability in the volatile Middle East.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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