After nearly two weeks of peaceful anti-government protests in Turkey, riot police have stormed the focal point of the demonstrations – Istanbul’s Taksim Square.
Thousands of supporters greeted prime minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan outside an Istanbul airport chanting “let us go, let’s crush Taksim”, as fear spreads that violent clashes are soon to follow.
The protests are continuing for the sixth day in Turkey, but in a unique twist, the protesters have crowdfunded an full-page advert in the New York Times to try to explain to the world their motives and aims.
The death of a second protester has been confirmed in the ongoing anti-government continue and gather pace around the country.
The ongoing protests across Turkey, stretching from May 28, show there is ample evidence of a flourishing culture of democracy in the country. They also highlight a worrying counter trend.