Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan today said that “We have not responded to punches with punches. From now on security forces will respond differently.”
He also warned the country’s security forces would end demonstrations that have shaken the country for two weeks within the next 24 hours.
Andrew Gardner, Turkey researcher at Amnesty International who is currently in Istanbul, responded:
“Prime Minister’s Erdogan’s outrageous statement is nothing short of a provocation, only likely to lead to more violence and more injured protesters, particularly as fresh demonstrations are planned this evening in Taksim Square and elsewhere.”
“It is high time for the international community, and in particular EU countries, to intervene by urging the Turkish government to enter into a meaningful dialogue with the protesters in order to de-escalate the situation and bring an end to the appalling levels of violence we have witnessed in the last two weeks.”