The nationwide demonstrations that sprang from a simple environmental protest in Istanbul, were a watershed in modern Turkish politics.
Excessive and even fatal use of force by the police was instrumental in bringing millions of peaceful demonstrators onto the streets, in what many called the "Gezi Uprising", with reference to the "Arab Spring" of 2011. Last week Amnesty International published a report saying the Turkish government's approach to demonstrations is as brutal as ever while impunity for police violence is rife. On Thursday, the trial of more than two dozen members of the Taksim Solidarity Platform, opened in Istanbul, with the accused, including doctors, architects, and engineers, facing jail terms of up to 13 years. The charges include founding a criminal syndicate, violating public order, and organizing illegal protests through social media. In the last fortnight, nationwide demonstrations across Turkey to mark the anniversary of the Gezi Park protests have been banned and brutally dispersed with tear gas, water cannons, and beatings. The repercussion and ramifications of last year's nationwide "Gezi Uprising" are still being felt in Turkey even today. However, the authorities seem more intent on pursuing the protesters rather than punishing those guilty for the deaths and injuries of those protesters.