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| The Grand Turk |
| Istanbul police close Gezi Park |
| 2014-06-01 |
| Istanbul police closed the Gezi Park in connection with the anniversary of mass protests that took place in this park on May 31 last year, Turkey's Milliyet newspaper reported. Police forces arrived in Istanbul from nearby cities in this regard. Earlier, Istanbul Province Governor, Huseyin Avni Mutlu said the authorities of Istanbul will not allow activist groups to hold illegal protests in the city center and will use coercive measures. Protests had been taking place in Turkey for nearly three weeks since the end of May 2013. The authorities said the protests were anti-government. Turkish opposition parties accused the police of using excessive force to disperse the protestors. Around 2.5 million people from 79 Turkish provinces participated in the protests during that time, according to the Turkish Interior Ministry. Nearly 4,000 people were injured, and 4,900 were detained by the authorities. |
| Posted by:Steve White |