Turkey is on fire—again. Last Tuesday a fifteen-year-old boy, Berkin Elvan, died after spending 269 days in a coma. It was June 16, 2013, when Berkin left his house in Istanbul to buy bread, never to return. Instead, Berkin got caught in the crossfire between the police and protesters that took over the streets and sustained a head injury that was most likely caused by a tear gas canister.
The protests that took place in Turkey last year were ignited by a demonstration against the development of a park in the capital's Taksim Square. The situation quickly escalated, and the world shifted its focus to the violent events occurring in Turkey. Eventually, the turmoil calmed down, but it seems like the death of Berkin may become the spark to re-ignite the fire.
As anti-government critics held regular vigils at the hospital where Berkin lay in intensive care, Berkin's incident became a symbol of the resistance against the government of Prime Minister Tayyip Erdoğan.
Although the European Court ruled that the firing of tear gas by Turkish police directly at protestors violates international legal standards (Adbullah Yasa and others v. Turkey), nine months have gone by without an effective investigation into the police who fatally injured Berkin.
His death has triggered renewed clashes between the police and his family's supporters, symbolizing the fight between the polarized political parties in Turkey. When Berkin was announced dead, the supporters of the family standing vigil outside of the Instanbul hospital pelted a police minibus with objects, to which the police answered with tear gas. Also, hundreds of university students marched through Ankara on Tuesday, blocking a major highway to protest against the police brutality in their country. Although the family of Berkin stated that they did not want their son's death to become politicized, opposition leader CHP Kemal Kilicdaroglu went as far as describing Berkin as a "martyr for democracy."
When the news of his death spread, the hashtag #BerkinElvanÖlümsüzdür ("Berkin Elvan is eternal") went global. Berkin Elvan has become a symbol of Turkey's record of police violence and lack of accountability, and once again the world has its eye on Erdogan’s next move. However, whether the Prime Minister will be able to placate the protests or not, is another matter.
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Photo Friday: Death of Teen Stirs Turmoil in Turkey
March 14, 2014
Turkey is on fire—again. Last Tuesday a fifteen-year-old boy, Berkin Elvan, died after spending 269 days in a coma. It was June 16, 2013, when Berkin left his house in Istanbul to buy bread, never to return. Instead, Berkin got caught in the crossfire between the police and protesters that took over the streets and sustained a head injury that was most likely caused by a tear gas canister.
The protests that took place in Turkey last year were ignited by a demonstration against the development of a park in the capital's Taksim Square. The situation quickly escalated, and the world shifted its focus to the violent events occurring in Turkey. Eventually, the turmoil calmed down, but it seems like the death of Berkin may become the spark to re-ignite the fire.
As anti-government critics held regular vigils at the hospital where Berkin lay in intensive care, Berkin's incident became a symbol of the resistance against the government of Prime Minister Tayyip Erdoğan.
Although the European Court ruled that the firing of tear gas by Turkish police directly at protestors violates international legal standards (Adbullah Yasa and others v. Turkey), nine months have gone by without an effective investigation into the police who fatally injured Berkin.
His death has triggered renewed clashes between the police and his family's supporters, symbolizing the fight between the polarized political parties in Turkey. When Berkin was announced dead, the supporters of the family standing vigil outside of the Instanbul hospital pelted a police minibus with objects, to which the police answered with tear gas. Also, hundreds of university students marched through Ankara on Tuesday, blocking a major highway to protest against the police brutality in their country. Although the family of Berkin stated that they did not want their son's death to become politicized, opposition leader CHP Kemal Kilicdaroglu went as far as describing Berkin as a "martyr for democracy."
When the news of his death spread, the hashtag #BerkinElvanÖlümsüzdür ("Berkin Elvan is eternal") went global. Berkin Elvan has become a symbol of Turkey's record of police violence and lack of accountability, and once again the world has its eye on Erdogan’s next move. However, whether the Prime Minister will be able to placate the protests or not, is another matter.
