Turkish police fire tear gas, water cannons on Istanbul protesters
- 10 years ago
ROUGH CUT (NO REPORTER NARRATION)
Turkish police fired tear gas to disperse hundreds of protesters in Istanbul's central Taksim Square on Saturday, who are demonstrating mainly against a government bill that would increase controls over the Internet.
A Reuters reporter saw protesters escaping into side streets after police used water cannon and tear gas. Shops rolled down their shutters.
Smaller demonstrations also took place in the coastal city of Izmir and in the capital Ankara, where about 300 protesters chanted slogans opposing the government and the internet bill.
The draft law that is to be debated in parliament in the coming days would allow the government to block websites without seeking a court order and it would also enable mass surveillance of Internet users.
The Turkish government said the bill was aimed at protecting people's privacy and protecting children from Internet predators.
Protesters gathered on Istanbul's Taksim Square chanted
Turkish police fired tear gas to disperse hundreds of protesters in Istanbul's central Taksim Square on Saturday, who are demonstrating mainly against a government bill that would increase controls over the Internet.
A Reuters reporter saw protesters escaping into side streets after police used water cannon and tear gas. Shops rolled down their shutters.
Smaller demonstrations also took place in the coastal city of Izmir and in the capital Ankara, where about 300 protesters chanted slogans opposing the government and the internet bill.
The draft law that is to be debated in parliament in the coming days would allow the government to block websites without seeking a court order and it would also enable mass surveillance of Internet users.
The Turkish government said the bill was aimed at protecting people's privacy and protecting children from Internet predators.
Protesters gathered on Istanbul's Taksim Square chanted