Police Points Rifles Towards Civilians During Berkin Elvan Protests

Police intervened a group in Istanbul’s Okmeydanı district who started a memorial march for Berkin Elvan, a 15 year old Gezi protestor who died last year after 269 days of comatose. 

The incident took place this afternoon after hundreds of people assembled in Okmeydanı district to commemorate Berkin Elvan in his neighborhood. Later on, a group started their march towards Feriköy Cemetery where Berkin Elvan is buried. 

However, police forces rejected the group’s action, intervening with tear gas and cannoned water. Protestors responded police violence with stones, fireworks and swing plows. 

Several reporters captured the image of a plain cloth riot policeman pointing his semi-automatic rifle towards a random pedestrian on the street. Many detentions were reported. 

On the other hand, some of those who were injured after the police intervention were transferred to a nearby cemevi - sacred place for Alevi faith. While the police allegedly attempted to break into the cemevi, a barricade has been set by protestors to prevent that from taking place. (EKN/BM)

* Click here to read the article in Turkish.