Ugly police violence and repression of freedom of speech and of assembly continue in Turkey, where attempts to stage protests in Taksim Square have been repeatedly suppressed with water cannon, tear gas and rubber bullets in the past few days.
The toll has been heavy. As an Amnesty statement released on July 9 notes, “[according] to the Istanbul Medical Association at least 30 people were injured yesterday including a 17 year-old… who is in a critical condition with head injuries after he was hit with a gas canister.”
Meanwhile, 19-year-old Ali İsmail Korkmaz succumbed to his wounds this week, the fifth confirmed death in the violence. According to newspaper reports, Korkmaz was injured during protests in Eskişehir on June 2, when he attempted to escape police tear gas and was “brutally beaten by a group wearing civilian clothes.” No arrests have been made in the case. He was nineteen years old.
As Turkish government officials place the blame for the protests on an assortment of actors, including twitter, hooligans, the foreign press, and “the Jewish lobby,” Turkish authorities continue a crackdown on dissent. Key members of Turkish civil society have been arrested after the most recent protests, including “representatives of Taksim Solidarity, including the General Secretary of the Istanbul Medical Association, Ali Çerkezoğlu and the Secretary of the Chamber of Architects, Mücella Yapıcı.”
The situation in Turkey is dire and we continue to need your support. Take a minute to add your voice to the hundreds of thousands worldwide who have called on Turkey to protect freedom of expression and end police violence.