Police brutality increasing against Gezi Park protestors

Police brutality increasing against Gezi Park protestors

A protestor, Can Tekin, was hit on the head by police with rubber bullet in Istanbul late Saturday.

Tekin, who came from Bandırma to Taksim to support the Gezi Park resistance, was reportedly hospitalized having a brain hemorrhage.

A pregnant woman had a miscarriage after having bleeding for a long time as a result of brutal police attack in Divan Hotel late Saturday evening. Dozens of people were reported detained or wounded in the brutal crackdown against protestors in and around Taksim as well as many other central districts across the city.

Speaking to Turkish TV Ulusal on Sunday, doctor Taylan Bilgen said that the voluntary doctors providing service for the wounded in the district of Harbiye have been handcuffed and taken into custody early afternoon. Bilgen, who himself witnessed the brutal attack against thousands of people, said police deliberately aimed tear gas at people instead of firing the gun into the air.

Istanbul has witnessed severe clashes in many places after riot police raided Gezi Park and forcibly evicted people early Saturday evening, cruelly firing tear gas at people and attacking them with intense pressure water which protestors say consists of acid leading to severe reaction that lasts two hours. The attack on the park came when there were no demonstrations in the park and Taksim Square and at a time when there were a number of children and elders in the park area, all suffering from the cruel attack. Many children were wounded.

Thousands across the city faced violent intervention by riot police who were supported by gendarme units and two gendarme riot control vehicles that attacked people in front of Divan Hotel which was also targeted by the attack, as well as Hilton Hotel, German Hospital and metro station.

A large mass crossing the Bosphorus Bridge was also attacked by police and gendarme units using tear gas and pressure water. Eight military vehicles have been deployed in Mecidiyeköy early Sunday as police are taking strict measures today, bringing thousands police officers from five other cities before the AKP rally to take place in Kazlıçeşme in the afternoon.

Tension and clashes in some places lasted till early morning, including Osmanbey where clashes between police and protestors broke out again early afternoon.

In the meantime Gezi Park and Taksim Square as well as all roads leading to the square have been blocked by police. Taksim metro station is also closed. Clashes are taking place on Istiklal Avenue and many other places since early afternoon.

Cleaning workers are inside the Gezi Park now, removing all things left by people in the park area.

Taksim Solidarity Platform has called on everyone and all circles to gather at Taksim Square at 16:00 local time.

Demonstrations will take place in many cities across the country today including Mersin, Adana, Hatay, Sivas, Denizli, Malatya, Erzincan, Kars.

In the meantime, a woman near the Kızılay Square has reportedly been shot on the head by a police officer aiming tear gas at her at close range. The woman has been rushed to Numune Hospital, reportedly having a brain hemorrhage.