Gezi Park/Taksim Square Istanbul

The author reports on the Gezi Park protests in Istanbul, which began as a movement to save the city's only central green area from being replaced by a shopping mall designed as Ottoman army barracks. The protests evolved into a national movement against the abuse of power and human rights violations, characterized by non-violent demonstrations and creative community support. The author details the government's response, including police violence using tear gas and water cannons, the arrest of medical professionals and lawyers, and the suppression of independent media. The text also highlights broader environmental concerns, such as the Bosphorus bridge project and the destruction of a hilltop park for a mosque, while criticizing the United States for its unconditional support of Prime Minister Erdogan.

• The protests were triggered by a government plan to destroy Gezi Park, described as the only green area in central Istanbul, to build a shopping mall modeled after Ottoman army barracks.
• The movement established five core demands: the preservation of Gezi Park, the resignation of those responsible for police violence, the cessation of tear gas use, the release of detainees, and respect for the human right to assemble.
• The Turkish government responded with violence and legal harassment, including the use of tear gas and water cannons—allegedly containing skin-burning chemicals—and the arrest of physicians and lawyers providing aid to protesters.
• Beyond Gezi Park, the author identifies other environmental projects under Prime Minister Erdogan that cause ecological damage, specifically a Bosphorus bridge project destroying forests and a mosque project destroying a hilltop park on the Asian side of Istanbul.

APA

Magraw, D. (2013). Gezi Park/Taksim Square Istanbul. Center for International Environmental Law. https://www.ciel.org/gezi-parktaksim-square-istanbul/

Chicago

Magraw, Dan. Gezi Park/Taksim Square Istanbul. Center for International Environmental Law, 2013. https://www.ciel.org/gezi-parktaksim-square-istanbul/.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |last1=Magraw |first1=Dan |title=Gezi Park/Taksim Square Istanbul |publisher=Center for International Environmental Law |date=17 June 2013 |url=https://www.ciel.org/gezi-parktaksim-square-istanbul/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{magraw2013gezi, author = {Magraw, Dan}, title = {{Gezi Park/Taksim Square Istanbul}}, publisher = {Center for International Environmental Law}, year = {2013}, month = jun, url = {https://www.ciel.org/gezi-parktaksim-square-istanbul/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }