Turkish villagers bite turnips to protest Donald Trump’s Jerusalem move

ANTALYA

Village heads in the southern province of Antalya have staged an unusual protest against U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to recognize Jerusalem as the Israeli capital: Biting turnips.

The Turkish word for turnip, “turp,” resembles the spelling of the controversial U.S. president’s surname, inspiring village heads association members in Antalya’s Kumluca district to take action.

The village heads gathered in front of their association building holding Palestinian and Turkish flags before biting turnips with the word “Trump” carved into them, Doğan News Agency reported on Dec. 11.

“The fall of Jerusalem means the fall of Anatolia,” said Mustafa Tüfekçi, the head of the local village heads association.

“Jerusalem is a beacon of honor for the Palestinian people and also for the entire ummah [Muslim community],” Tüfekçi added.

After his address the assembled group of village heads bit their turnips for the cameras.