Riots in Turkey

A Turkish riot policeman used tear gas against a woman as people protested in Istanbul. Protests began on May 31 over the fate of Taksim Gezi Park, one of the last significant green spaces in the center of the city. The heavy-handed response of the police and the increasingly authoritarian agenda of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s government broadened the rage of the clashes.

View sequential photos of the incident pictured above.

Protesters shouted antigovernment slogans during a demonstration in Ankara, Turkey. The protests began on May 31 over the fate of Taksim Gezi Park, one of the last significant green spaces in the center of the city. The heavy-handed response of the police and the increasingly authoritarian agenda of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s government broadened the rage of the clashes.

Turkey’s deputy premier, Bulent Arinc, sought to mollify tens of thousands of antigovernment demonstrators by apologizing for the police crackdown on a peaceful protest that triggered five days of rioting across the country. The Islamic-rooted government said on June 4 that it had “learnt its lesson” and appealed for an end to mass street protests that have convulsed the country for days in the worst political crisis in a decade.

Protesters stood on a damaged vehicle as they shouted antigovernment slogans during a demonstration at Taksim Square in central Istanbul on June 4.

Smoke rose over Taksim Square after a fire was set in a container used for construction workers. The protests began initially over the fate of Taksim Gezi Park, one of the last significant green spaces in the center of the city.

A protester ran away from tear gas during clashes with Turkish riot policemen between Taksim and Besiktas in Istanbul on June 3.

Two Turkish women walked through a main pedestrian while wearing Turkish flags and a mask near Taksim Square in Istanbul on June 3. More than 2,300 people have been injured and one person was killed during the clashes.

Riot police hunched behind shields and fired tear gas during clashes with demonstrators in central Ankara on June 1.

A jet of water hit a man as riot police used a water cannon to disperse demonstrators in Ankara on June 1.

Protesters chanted slogans against the government as they protested the demolition of Taksim Gezi Park.

A Turkish protester hurled stones towards riot police during a rally against Turkey’s conservative government. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan released a statement June 1 saying that the police action had been disproportional and demanded an investigation. However, he also told demonstrators to end their protests and said his government would not negotiate with a minority movement.