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Unrest in Turkey

July 30, 2013

What started as a peaceful protest against plans to develop an Istanbul park expanded to a rebuke of Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's policies. As unrest continues, DW reviews how the demonstrations started.

https://p.dw.com/p/18l2I
Tear gas surrounds a protestor holding a Turkish flag with a portrait of the founder of modern Turkey Mustafa Kemal Ataturk Photo: ADEM ALTAN/AFP/Getty Images
Image: Adem Altan/AFP/Getty Images

Upset over plans to build barracks and a shopping center in Gezi Park, thousands of environmental activists and other protesters gathered in Istanbul's Taksim Square to protect the park.

But that demonstration quickly grew into something bigger and expanded to a dozen cities around the country. Protesters say that this is more about reproaching Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan for his increasingly authoritarian policies. Over 4,000 people have been injured and two people have died in the protests as authorities fired tear gas and water canons at protesters who responded by throwing stones.

DW looks at the most serious political unrest to grip Turkey in years.

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Reports & Analysis

Turkish riot police take up position at Taksim Square in Istanbul June 12, 2013 Turkish riot police fought running battles with pockets of protesters overnight, clearing the central Istanbul square that has been the focus of nearly two weeks of protests against Turkey's prime minister. REUTERS/Osman Orsal (TURKEY - Tags: CIVIL UNREST POLITICS)

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June 9, 201305:59 min
Anti-government protesters hold up a Turkish flag (Photo: ADEM ALTAN/AFP/Getty Images)

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Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan (photo:

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Turkish police move to clear Taksim Square

June 11, 201300:33 min

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June 5, 2013
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Erdogan responds to protests

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An anti-government protester raises her fist during a demonstration in central Ankara June 3, 2013. Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan accused anti-government protesters on Monday of walking "arm-in-arm with terrorism", remarks that could further inflame public anger after three days of some of the most violent riots in decades. Hundreds of police and protesters have been injured since Friday in the riots, which began with a demonstration to halt construction in a park in an Istanbul square and grew into mass protests against what opponents call Erdogan's authoritarianism. REUTERS/Umit Bektas (TURKEY - Tags: POLITICS CIVIL UNREST)

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PoliticsJune 5, 201304:42 min

Opinion: Erdogan's miscalculation

Prime Minister Erdogan should recognize the protests as a warning sign, says Baha Güngör.
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Turkish protesters camp out overnight

Tens of thousands of protesters camped out overnight on Taskim Square as riot police withdrew from the area. The demonstrations were sparked by a government plan to build a shopping centre on parkland.
June 2, 201301:33 min
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