Cross-border motion protested in Turkey

ISTANBUL

In Ankara, union members gathered in front of Parliament against the motion which authorized the deployment of Turkish troops to foreign countries. AA photo

Civil society organizations and parties demonstrated around Turkey to protest the imminent adoption of a motion authorizing the government to deploy troops to foreign countries and to allow the deployment of military forces from other countries on Turkish soil.

A group of women from the Women’s Initiative against War opened a banner on the Bosporus Bridge on Oct. 2 against the move to send troops into Syria, ostensibly against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). Police detained the women.

In Istanbul’s Bağcılar district, meanwhile, women from the Peace Mothers’ association also occupied the local Justice and Development Party (AKP) branch, shouting “Murderer ISIL, collaborator AKP.”

In Ankara, a group of union members gathered in front of Parliament against the motion. Members of the Confederation of Progressive Trade Unions (DİSK), the Confederation of Public Sector Trade Unions (KESK) and the Chamber of Architects and Engineers’ (TMMOB), the Turkish Doctors’ Union (TTB) also protested the motion in front of Parliament. They chanted slogans against the motion and marched from Meşrutiyet Street toward the Parliament, before dispersing after the protest without any incident.

Lawyers protest

A group of lawyers also gathered in front of the İzmir Courthouse on Oct. 2 in protest at the motion.

In Antalya, police detained nine people who had chained themselves to traffic lamps and blocked traffic in protest at the motion.