Tens of thousands of people waving red Turkish flags filled the streets of the Black Sea city of Samsun on Sunday to protest against the Islamist-rooted government ahead of a July election.
”No to Sharia [Islamic law]”, ”Turkey is secular and will remain secular”, the crowd chanted in the main square.
The rally, the latest in a series of protests, was billed by organisers as a way of uniting the divided opposition against the government, which they accuse of trying to undermine the secular state in overwhelmingly Muslim Turkey.
The latest protest follows a pact on Thursday between the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) and the smaller left-wing DSP to contest the July 22 election together.
The leaders of the two parties arrived at the demonstration together. Two right-wing parties have also merged.
There was a heavy police presence but a carnival atmosphere.
”We are here for an enlightened Turkey. We are here so that the future generations of our children can see good days. We are here so that they can see a totally independent Turkey, free of backwardness and Sharia,” said retired teacher Ahmet Altunkus.
Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan’s ruling AK Party, which denies any Islamist agenda, has called a general election ahead of schedule to resolve a conflict with the secularist elite over a presidential election.
The secular establishment, including the military, judges and opposition parties, derailed the government’s plan to elect Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul as president, fearing he might weaken the official separation of religion and state.
Opposition mobilising
Since it came to power in the wake of a financial crisis, the government has presided over five years of economic growth and political stability and the launch of membership talks with the European Union.
Erdogan’s centre-right party is expected to attract the most votes, but may be forced to form a coalition government.
The series of rallies has given momentum to efforts by opposition parties to put up a united front against the government in the election.
”Millions will call [the government] to account at the ballot box,” said one banner in Samsun.
This week’s poll alliance between the nationalist-minded CHP and the small leftist DSP grouping, which has no deputies, came in the wake of a merger on the right of the political spectrum.
Centre-right parties True Path and Motherland have merged to form the New Democrat Party in a bid to ensure they cross Turkey’s 10% threshold required to enter Parliament.
At least a million people attended a rally last weekend in the Aegean port city of Izmir and similar protests have been held in the capital Ankara, Istanbul and other cities.
Sunday’s protest came a day after official national celebrations to mark the anniversary of the launch of Turkey’s war of independence by the country’s founder Mustafa Kemal Ataturk in Samsun in 1919. — Reuters