A Sunday Morning in Istanbul

In various events and locations, police intervened book readers, soccer fans and Berkin Elvan mourners yesterday, detaining dozens of Istanbulites.

Berkin Elvan mourners detained

The initial incident took place around 11 am local time yesterday morning with two demonstrators who wished to commemorate Berkin Elvan on the 40th day of his death due to police violence. As they went to the Taksim Monument and wished to leave breads under it, police prevented them to complete their mourning. Police detained two demonstrators. 

“Human honor will defeat torture,” they shouted as they were harshly taken to the police bus.

Around 2 pm, two more mourners went to the Taksim monument and wished to leave breads once again; they too, were detained by the police.

Reading forbidden in Gezi Park

Around 1 pm local time, police also hindered book exchange and book reading activities due to the reason of “safety of the park” in Gezi Park. 

The incident happened as dozen of activists gathered at Gezi Parkı to read and exchange books, police was there waiting them and prevented activists’ access to the park. 

Police removed activists outside of the park, while they were reading books under the trees. 

According to various news agencies, Ümit Karabilek, an activist reading a book, was detained by the police. 

Soccer fans faced violence 

On the other hand, soccer fans gathered around Galatasaray Square around 1 pm to protest the usage of e-ticket, saying that it caused filing. 

Protestor fans faced police attack after meeting at Galatasaray Square.

Police announced “We will interfere if you don’t leave now” and fans protested by shouting “We can’t hear you!”

Police attacked fans with cannon water and tear gas, and detained some of the protesting fans. (ENÜ/BM) 

* This article has been compiled from various articles at bianet Turkish.