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Two years after Gezi: Remembering iconic figures
Two years after Gezi: Remembering iconic figures
Two years after Gezi: Remembering iconic figures
Woman in Red: Police officer faces three years in prison Ceyda Sungur, or the “Woman in Red”, was one of the earliest symbols of Gezi. Sungur continues to work at the Faculty of Architecture at the Istanbul Technical University as a research fellow. The police officer who showered her in pepper stray from a close distance is now facing three years in prison. The court sentence is due June 10. Sungur refrained from commenting on the ongoing case when Hürriyet reached out. “I do not wish to make a statement on the case or on Gezi,” she said.
Two years after Gezi: Remembering iconic figures
Whirling dervish in gas mask will come to Turkey for a dance workshop in June Vienna-based dancer Ziya Azazi received media attention during Gezi as a whirling dervish in a gas mask. Azazi continues to work on Sufi whirling and told Hürriyet that he will be in Istanbul’s Kadıköy district from June 4 to June 6 to hold a workshop. “Gezi demonstrated that our people can unite, despite differences in religion, language, ethnicity and status. I hope this unity can be achieved again,” he said.
Two years after Gezi: Remembering iconic figures
“I wanted to show that the demonstrations were peaceful:” the Woman in Black Kate Cullen, better known as the “Woman in Black”, was an exchange student at Koç University when she stood in front of a water cannon (TOMA) shooting directly at her. Shortly after, she returned to her native Australia. Speaking to BBC, Cullen said she was caught by surprise when the police shot water at her. “I stood in front of the TOMA to demonstrate the peacefulness of Gezi. I did not think they would shoot water at me but I thought it would be an amazing photograph if they did,” she said.
Two years after Gezi: Remembering iconic figures
“My belief is in youth, not leaders”: Standing man Performance artist Erdem Gündüz began a silent protest when he started standing silently in the middle of Taksim Square, staring at a flag of Turkey’s founding father Mustafa Kemal Atatürk on the Atatürk Culture Center (AKM). Scores of people followed his lead across the country, standing still or reading books at their cities’ squares. Erdem Gündüz said he continues to teach dancing and his beliefs remain unchanged. “I am the same person as I was, despite the fatigue and hopelessness. My belief is in the youth, not in the leaders. However, I do not find meaning in commemorating Gezi when we are still far off from a humane life,” Gündüz stated.
Two years after Gezi: Remembering iconic figures
“I barely escaped a lynching attempt:” Man accused of consuming alcohol in mosque Emre Öztürk was accused of consuming alcohol inside the mosque where many Gezi protesters took shelter, as his picture was photoshopped and a can of coke he was holding was replaced with a can of beer. Out of social pressure, Öztürk moved to Iraq for a brief period. He now lives in Cyprus. “I barely escaped a lynching attempt. I was not allowed to live in my own country. I want to return once the court case is finalized,” he said.
Two years after Gezi: Remembering iconic figures
”If they were happening today, I would join the Gezi protests again:” Young man who read book to police During the protests, photographs of a young man reading a book to police officers went viral, with captions identifying the act as an application of “disproportional intelligence.” Following Gezi, Şehriban Karabulut, the young man in question, went to Spain for a European Union project and worked on art projects organized for convicts and the homeless. Speaking to Hürriyet, Karabulut said if he could travel back in time, he would still join the Gezi protests. “If it was happening today, I would still join Gezi as an individual. I become disillusioned by organizations since Spain. Hierarchy is everywhere and I am not fond of it,” he said.
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