Turkish outrage

What started as a small demonstration to save sycamore trees in Istanbul's Taksim Square quickly escalated into a nationwide protest marred with violence; how could this happen? Surely the underlying reasons must extend further than sycamore trees in Gezi Park to the authoritarian rule forcing conservative Islamic views on Turkey.

The legacy of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk; credited as the founder of the modern secular Turkish republic who lead the Turkish nationalist movement through the war of independence forming a modern Turkey is immortalised in the Ataturk cultural centre. 

The symbolism to the modern Turkish republic must not be under-estimated, Ataturk's picture hangs in every major building in Turkey. The reconstruction to Taksim Square includes a proposed mosque that would more than likely overshadow the monument of the republic; commemorating the founding of the Republic of Turkey in 1923.

Plans to demolish the Ataturk cultural centre smacks of ideology; an attempt to denigrate the secular ideals of Ataturk sparked a nationalistic outpouring of Turks into action. The power of social media has been the driving force behind protests around the country from Ankara to Bodrum to Kas.

Defying calls from Recep Tayyip Erdogan to halt protests and despite employing heavy handed tactics, water cannons and tear gas were used to disperse crowds. The image of Turkey as a modern and democratic nation is now in tatters with Recep Tayyip Erdogan facing international condemnation.