Firebombs and water cannons: Kurdish protesters clash with police in Turkey (PHOTOS)

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Published time: October 30, 2012 19:58
Edited time: October 30, 2012 23:58

Kurdish protestors stand in front of a barricade set on fire during clashes between Kurdish demonstrators and riot policemen on October 30, 2012, in Istanbul (AFP Photo / Bulent Kilic)

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Clashes, Conflict, Police, Politics, Protest, Turkey

Turkish police used tear gas and water cannons to disperse thousands of Kurdish protesters, who organized a rally in the southeastern city of Diyarbakir, demanding increased rights.

Demonstrators threw firebombs and stones at the police which caused many local residents to barricade themselves in their homes, preventing their children from going to school.

The rally began when thousands of angry Kurds marched to a prison in Diyarbakir in order to show their support for prisoners who went on hunger strike six weeks ago. They’re demanding the right to use the Kurdish language in Turkey's education and legal systems, and an end to the solitary confinement of Abdullah Ocalan – the imprisoned leader of the Kurdish armed movement, the PKK.

Ocalan was sentenced to death in 1999, though that was later commuted to life imprisonment following the abolition of the death penalty in Turkey in 2002. Most of the prisoners on strike are serving time for alleged links to the PKK, who are deemed terrorists by Turkey and its Western allies.

Turkey’s government has tried to reconcile with members of the Kurdish minority, which makes up nearly 30 percent of the country’s population. However, activists who seek autonomy in the mostly Kurdish southeast say state concessions have not gone far enough.

The PKK has waged an armed campaign in southeast Turkey for more than 25 years, fighting to create an ethnic homeland for the Kurdish people.

Turkish riot police fire tear gas as they clash with Kurdish demonstrators during a protest in support of a hunger strike movement by Kurdish prisoners, on October 30, 2012, in Istanbul (AFP Photo / Bulent Kilic)

A protestor throws a fire bomb as he clashes with Turkish riot police during a protest in support of a hunger strike movement by Kurdish prisoners, on October 30, 2012, in Istanbul (AFP Photo / Bulent Kilic)

Turkish riot police take positions as they clash with Kurdish demonstrators during a protest in support of a hunger strike movement by Kurdish prisoners, on October 30, 2012, in Istanbul (AFP Photo / Bulent Kilic)

Turkish riot police fire a water cannon as they clash with Kurdish demonstrators during a protest in support of a hunger strike movement by Kurdish prisoners, on October 30, 2012, in Istanbul (AFP Photo / Bulent Kilic)

Protestors help a woman after she was affected by tear gas used by police during clashes against Kurdish demonstrators protesting in support of a hunger strike movement by Kurdish prisoners, on October 30, 2012, in Istanbul (AFP Photo / Bulent Kilic)

Protestors help Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) Parliamentarian Sabahat Tuncel (C) after she was affected by tear gas used by police during clashes against Kurdish demonstrators protesting in support of a hunger strike movement by Kurdish prisoners, on October 30, 2012, in Istanbul (AFP Photo / Bulent Kilic)

Comments (9)

Winston Smith (unregistered) 31.10.2012 16:05

During 1978 Iranian revolution,western imperialism was so frightened of the Iranian revolution spilling over into Iraq and Turkey,that they unleashed coup d'atats in both countries which allowed military regime to take charge of Turkey and in Iraq resulted in Sadam from just a president, to that of a military dictator,through which they closed all political parties in Turkey and Iraq and allowed them to rule everybody in a dictatorial manner,except for Kurds in Turkey,Iran and Iraq.The Kurds will teach PM Erdogan a lesson he will never forget and have no doubt that Americans will take on PKK as Zionism always regarded red Kurds as the real enemy specially when it comes to their Zionist agenda in middle east.Thanks to PM Erdogan,,,Turkey will never be the same economical or military power house again,ever.

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Vellach Samie (unregistered) 31.10.2012 06:43

Americans today are waking up to the fact that big Government is bad Government. They will soon learn that a good Government is a dead Government that should not have any power. Kurds are an old civilization which learned that long ago and did not have a strong Government when the brute Turks attacked them. Kurds mainly live in peace. But are being pushed to fight just as the Tamils fought in Sri Lanka when even the minimum rights for using own language is not given. Looks like another catastrophe is being planned. Erdogen cannot create wealth for his people. Turkish Unions are in streets asking for their rights. Erdogen is pushing attention to Kurds and Syrians.Erdoegn was a hope for muslim people in middle east. He is now just another stooge like Saudi and Qatar rulers.

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Mathias (unregistered) 31.10.2012 04:18

Babushka & co (unregistered) wrote in #4
57% of Turks in Germany is working, rest is living on social benefits and sending back money to Turkey. They also do not want to assimilate and in fact despise German hosts. Go Kurds Go !

Everywh ere you go it's all the same from Turks. That's the same way in dearbornistan. Instead of getting along with their country men they do this instead. They do a lot worse when the cameras aren't on them. A bunch of animals that aren't of any use to anyone. Except to use them like they are being so stupid. Who knows what Erdogan was promised.

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