With much fanfare, the Turkish government reopened Gezi Park today.  Unfortunately, the more fundamental problems of police violence and attacks on basic freedom of expression and assembly are going unaddressed.  Indeed, in Istanbul and elsewhere police violence continues apace.  As the police continued their crackdown, Gezi Park was closed once again.  Photo-ops are no substitute for attacks on basic freedoms.

Water cannon being deployed against protestors in Taksim this past weekend. © Mehmet Kaçmaz/NarPhotos Used by permission. The photographer was injured in today’s violence. We wish him a full and speedy recovery.

The news from Istanbul is troubling.   AP reports that water cannon, tear gas, and rubber bullets were again deployed against protestors.  Reports on arrests and injuries from today are still foggy, but AP notes that more than fifty people were detained on Saturday.   Reporters Without Borders says that at least twelve journalists were attacked by police that same day.  At least two journalists were detained according to the group.

More shortly…

Howard Eissenstat
St. Lawrence University