Since the failed coup, protesters have filled squares throughout Turkey on a nightly basis. On July 15, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called on supporters to take to the streets to defend his regime from the military.
Deutsche Welle, 23 July 2016
Thousands
of people have flocked to squares across Turkey on a nightly basis since
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called supporters to the streets on July 15, the
evening of the failed coup. The supporters of the regime have become known as
the "Democracy Watch."
"I
still think there is a threat," 26-year-old Muhittin Bayhantopcu said on
Istanbul's Taksim Square Friday evening. "This threat is against the
entire country, toward all groups. I'm here for democracy."
Thousands
of people filled the square on Friday evening, many of them holding Turkish
flags. There were women wearing religious coverings such as chadors, men with
tattoos on motorcycles, men wearing Islamic skullcaps, and men wearing
sleeveless shirts and shorts. Most people appeared to be conservative. Some
demonstrators brought their children.
"In
this country, there always was and is the threat of a military coup," a
university student said. "I know this because I study history." She
said she had voted for an opposition party in the most recent elections, but
that that party had since characterized the post-coup assemblies on Taksim as
nationalist. "But if the other parties displayed the same stance and were
in the same place, everything would be different," the student said.
"We would be a united nation. I'm here with my people."
 |
| Young and old have been lured to Turkey's squares by Erdogan's call to defend democrarcy |
'Security
and tranquility'
Protests
had been banned for the past three years on Taksim Square, where in 2013
demonstrators had railed against the regime and its plans to turn parts of
Istanbul's beloved Gezi Park over to developers. The movement spread
nationwide, and more than 20 people were killed in the crackdown. Things have
gone more smoothly at these demonstrations, with some participants even posing
for photos with the police. Queues for sandwiches distributed by the state
stretch 70 meters (230 feet). "These marches must continue,"
President Erdogan said on Friday.
To
facilitate that, public transit is running 24 hours and portable toilets have
been put into use. "The danger has not yet passed," Prime Minister
Binali Yildirim said on Friday. "The security and tranquility of our
citizens has been ensured. But there is no room for complacency."
On one of
two televisions on Taksim Square, a presenter read out the national anthem and
encouraged the crowd to wave flags, which can be bought onsite for 5 lira (1.5
euro/$1.60). T-shirts bearing the phrase "Sovereignty belongs to the
nation" are also for sale, as are headbands that say "Martyrs never
die," scarves with Erdogan's name and image, and flag-themed key chains.
People chant "God is great" or slogans referencing the flag's red and
white.
"This
country is ours," an older woman said on Friday. "This land is ours.
This flag is ours." She wouldn't give her name, but it was clear that her
sympathies did not lie with the coup's plotters: "My Lord didn't side with
these traitors. He protected us."
Red
carnations were piled in front of a podium, near the listed names of the people
killed during the coup attempt. There were two notebooks on the podium to allow
mourners and patriots to express their thoughts.
"What
is it like to lie in front of a tank?" said 43-year-old Ilhan Atac, who
had come to the square with his 4-year-old daughter, explaining what he had
written in one of the notebooks. "How brave must one be to use their chest
as a shield from bullets? I thanked my martyrs for doing these things. I said
that since we are a great nation, we would not fall apart."
On the
stage, the master of ceremonies reminded the crowd that people were on city
squares across Turkey. He listed the cities, asking "Are you here?"
The demonstrators replied: "We're here. We're here until further
notice."
Twenty-four-year-old
textile worker Selahattin Ergün had been here for the past five nights.
"I'm happy to be together with these people," he said. "Kurds,
Turks, Zaza, Circassians, and Laz - I'm seeing everyone in unity together here
right now."
Related Articles:
Turkey detains senior Gulen aide after coup attempt
Turkey to disband presidential guard after post-coup detentions: PM
Mini Channelling Grand Rapids, Michigan - July 16-17, 2016 (Kryon Channelling by Lee Carroll) (With reference to global changes & Turkey coup > 10.10 min) - New
#Istanbul : First cross-party rally to condemn the #TurkeyCoupAttempt Photos @Kilicbil @ozannkosee @PhotographyGO pic.twitter.com/gbupHQVaas— AFP Photo Department (@AFPphoto) July 24, 2016
Related Articles:
 |
Pro-Erdogan supporters wave a Turkish flag during a rally at Bosphorus bridge
in Istanbul on July 21, 2016 (AFP Photo/Umit Turhan Coskun)
|
Turkey detains senior Gulen aide after coup attempt
Turkey to disband presidential guard after post-coup detentions: PM
Mini Channelling Grand Rapids, Michigan - July 16-17, 2016 (Kryon Channelling by Lee Carroll) (With reference to global changes & Turkey coup > 10.10 min) - New
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.