Protesters briefly detained in demo against the privatization of ferry dock in Istanbul’s Beşiktaş

ISTANBUL

Riot police push away protesters with shields on Sept. 20, during a demonstration at the Besiktas docks near the Turkish Prime Minister's working office in Istanbul. AFP photo

Twelve demonstrators were briefly detained after a “tea drinking” protest against the sale of the Kadıköy ferries dock to a hotel, in Beşiktaş along the Bosphorus European shores in the evening of Sept. 20.

Several hundred of people brought tea in their thermos to participate in the event called “Don’t touch my dock,” organized by the Abbassağa Park Gezi forum.

However, riot police stationed in the area did not allow the protesters to gather around the dock, which is located only a few hundred meters from the Turkish prime minister’s working office in Dolmabahçe.

Twelve people were detained after a scuffle broke out between police and protesters.

Demonstrators then assembled a few meters away, launching a sit-in and drinking tea from their flasks, to call for the release of the detained protesters.

The detained protesters were eventually released after the medical checks.

The historical Kadıköy ferry pier in Beşiktaş has reportedly been sold to the newly built hotel located just in front of the prime minister’s office, stirring local outcry.