A letter From the Turkish People

The violent response to a peaceful protest to save Istanbul’s Gezi Park symbolizes an autocratic government’s increasing encroachment on the civil rights of the country’s citizens. We hope for new dialogue—one that can restore the trust of Turkish citizens in a government that positioned Turkey as a global economic power, but which is now getting recognition around the world for condoning harsh police retaliation that strikes at the pillars of democracy.

This is not just about a park

Before the park came the arrests of journalists, elected officials, systemic de-secularization of future generations through Islamification of school curricula. The plans to demolish Gezi Park despite public opposition and the subsequent police brutality directed at demonstrators finally sparked the reaction against Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s decade-long rule. The demonstrators are from different ideological, religious and socioeconomic backgrounds. They are young, old, religious, secular, gay, straight, foreign, domestic, fringe, mainstream, anarchist, women in headscarves, women in tank tops, Alevi, Sunni, Jewish, and Christian. This is Turkish Democracy in action.

Wake up

This would not have happened had it just been the park. Protests are to no avail. In a true democracy, citizens can question and amend government initiatives.

This wouldn’t have happened had the Turkish government not used excessive teargas, plastic bullets, tanks, helicopters and physical violence to crush the peaceful Gezi park protestors. A true democracy allows for protest and does not use excessive violence against its citizens.

This would not have happened had the big Turkish media channels covered the riots from the start. Unfortunately there are strong ties between media outlets and the government. This is why Turkish protestors use social media to seek the attention of foreign media. In a true democracy, media is independent and reports in a balanced way on events happening.

What you should know:

Turkey is at a pivotal juncture. The violent response to a peaceful protest to save Istanbul’s Gezi Park symbolizes an autocratic government’s increasing encroachment on the civil rights of the country’s citizens.

How it started:

It all began with a small cluster of eucalyptus trees and a peaceful sit-in by a few concerned citizens who had been protesting Gezi Park’s scheduled destruction for months. On May 31, 2013, riot police set fire to the demonstrators’ tents and attacked them with pressurized water, pepper and tear gas during a night raid.

How it grew:

Hundreds and thousands of citizens from all walks of life then poured in to show support for the sitters, only to be met with hostility administered through armored personnel carriers, water cannons and more pepper spray. Clashes resulted in the arrests of hundreds and estimated thousands of people were injured. Demonstrations spread to other cities and citizens were met with similar brutality.

Call to action:

We call for reconciliation, to bridge a divide within our nation before it is too vast to repair.

Please listen to our concerns. Stop the violence on Turkish people. It is time to drop the tear gas canisters, batons, and water guns and come to the table. A leaf of peace, from a small grove of trees, we offer.

We want the world to hear from Turks themselves about what’s happening in Turkey. We want the world to support us as we push for true democracy in our country, the Number of dead protestors exceeds 500. Number of arrested protestors is many thousands, none of these protestors are armed or attacking to the police. Excessive torture is continuing in police stations and on streets.  we are safe not terrorists, we are just civilians, who demand their freedom back, please help us, we love Syria, and Syrian people, but Erdogan ah… he has problem, he wants to destroy everything beautiful, please help us to publish our letter, in your newspaper.

Source: Young people from Turkey

Edited by : Butheina Al-nounou