One day last summer, as anti-government protests roiled Istanbul, a 14-year-old boy named Berkin Elvan was on his way to buy bread when he was struck in the head by a tear gas canister. After spending months in a coma, Berkin died this week -- reigniting anger at Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and sending thousands back into the streets in dozens of cities. Riot police were quick to react, disrupting demonstrations with water cannons, clubs, and more tear gas. At least two were killed, dozens more injured. Opposition groups are calling for further protests and are still seeking the ouster of Prime Minister Erdogan.
In Turkey, Renewed Anti-Government Protests
Hints:
View this page full screen.
Skip to the next and previous photo by typing j/k or ←/→.
-
![]()
Read moreA young woman, held after she was wounded during clashes between riot police and protestors after the funeral of Berkin Elvan in Istanbul on March 12, 2014. Riot police fired tear gas and water cannons at protestors in the capital, while in Istanbul, crowds shouting anti-government slogans lit a huge fire as they made their way to a cemetery for Elvan's burial. A 15-year-old boy who died from injuries suffered during last year's anti-government protests, Elvan's story became a symbol for many Turks of the heavy-handed police tactics against mass anti-government demonstrators in June, a major challenge to Erdogan's 11-year-rule. #
Bulent Kilic/AFP/Getty Images -
-
![]()
Read morePeople hold images of Berkin Elvan as they gather In Ankara, Turkey, on March 11, 2014, to protest his death. Elvan's story became a symbol for many Turks of the heavy-handed police tactics against mass anti-government demonstrators in June, a major challenge to Erdogan's 11-year-rule. #
AP Photo/Burhan Ozbilici -
![]()
Read moreThousands march for Berkin Elvan during his funeral in Istanbul on March 12, 2014. #
AP Photo/Emrah Gurel -
![]()
Read moreThe people carry the coffin of Berkin Elvan during his funeral in Istanbul on March 12, 2014. The placard reads: "Berkin Elvan is immortal!" #
AP Photo/Emrah Gurel -
-
![]()
Read morePeople carry Berkin Elvan's coffin, as family members watch from a window, during his funeral in Istanbul on March 12, 2014. #
AP Photo/Emrah Gurel -
![]()
Read moreFamily members cry as people carry Berkin Elvan's coffin through Istanbul on March 11, 2014. #
AP Photo/Emrah Gurel -
![]()
Read moreThousands gather at Okmeydani in Istanbul while they carry the coffin of Berkin Elvan during his funeral on March 12, 2014 in Istanbul. #
Ozan Kose/AFP/Getty Images -
-
![]()
Read moreAnti-government protesters fight with members of the fire department during the funeral of Berkin Elvan in Istanbul on March 12, 2014. #
Reuters/Osman Orsal -
![]()
Read moreThousands attend the funeral of Berkin Elvan in Istanbul on March 12, 2014. #
Mira/AFP/Getty Images -
![]()
Read moreA woman holds a poster of Berkin Elvan during a protest in Ankara, Turkey, on March 12, 2014. The placard reads: "I want the killers of my child." #
AP Photo/Burhan Ozbilici -
-
![]()
Read moreRiot police use water cannons and teargas to disperse thousands of people marching for Berkin Elvan during his funeral in Istanbul on March 12, 2014. #
AP Photo/Emrah Gurel -
![]()
Read moreRiot police use water cannons to disperse anti-government protesters near the Middle East Technical University in Ankara on March 11, 2014. #
Reuters/Umit Bektas -
![]()
Read moreRiot police use water cannons and teargas to disperse thousands marching for Berkin Elvan in Istanbul on March 12, 2014. #
AP Photo/Emrah Gurel -
-
![]()
Read moreRiot police use water cannons to disperse thousands of people marching for Berkin Elvan during his funeral in Istanbul on March 12, 2014. #
AP Photo/Emrah Gurel -
![]()
Read moreRiot police fire tear gas to disperse anti-government protesters in Istanbul on March 12, 2014. #
Reuters/Murad Sezer -
![]()
Read moreProtesters flee a teargas-filled building during clashes after the funeral of Berkin Elvan on March 12, 2014, in Istanbul. #
Ozan Kose/AFP/Getty Images -
-
![]()
Read moreDemonstrators flee from teargas in Istanbul, Turkey, on March 12, 2014. #
AP Photo/Emrah Gurel -
![]()
Read moreRiot police use water cannons and teargas to disperse thousands marching for Berkin Elvan in Istanbul on March 12, 2014. #
AP Photo/Emrah Gurel -
![]()
Read moreA riot policeman kicks the flag of an anti-government protester during a demonstration in Ankara on March 12, 2014. #
Reuters/Umit Bektas -
-
![]()
Read morePhotographers take pictures of a woman wounded during clashes with riot police on March 12, 2014 in Istanbul. #
Mira/AFP/Getty Images -
![]()
Read moreAn injured woman is carried away after riot police fired tear gas to disperse demonstrators in Ankara on March 12, 2014. #
Reuters/Umit Bektas -
![]()
Read moreA protester uses fireworks during clashes with riot police at the funeral of Berkin Elvan in Istanbul on March 12, 2014. #
Ozan Kose/AFP/Getty Images -
-
![]()
Read moreFireworks thrown by anti-government protesters explode near riot policemen in Istanbul on March 12, 2014. #
Reuters/Murad Sezer -
![]()
Read moreAnti-government protesters run as riot police fire a water cannon during a demonstration in Ankara on March 11, 2014. #
Reuters/Umit Bektas -
![]()
Read moreA riot policeman beats a protester during clashes after the funeral of Berkin Elvan in Istanbul on March 12, 2014. #
Bulent Kilic/AFP/Getty Images -
-
![]()
Read moreA protester shouts at policemen during clashes in Istanbul on March 12, 2014. #
Gurcan Ozturk/AFP/Getty Images -
![]()
Read moreA policeman fires tear gas at protesters in Istanbul on March 12, 2014. #
Ozan Kose/AFP/Getty Images -
![]()
Read morePeople run from tear gas and water cannons during clashes between riot police and protesters in Istanbul on March 12, 2014. #
Bulent Kilic/AFP/Getty Images -
-
![]()
Read moreRiot policemen shield themselves as fireworks thrown by protesters explode next to the statue of a bull during an anti-government protest in the Kadikoy district of Istanbul on March 11, 2014. #
Reuters/Stringer -
![]()
Read moreAn armored police vehicle drives through a barricade set ablaze during a demonstration in Ankara on March 12, 2014. #
Adem Altan/AFP/Getty Images -
![]()
Read moreAn anti-government protester wearing a Guy Fawkes mask gestures behind a barricade during a demonstration in Ankara on March 12, 2014. #
Reuters/Umit Bektas -
-
![]()
Read morePeople protest the death of Berkin Elvan in Istanbul on March 11, 2014. #
AP Photo/Emrah Gurel -
![]()
Read moreRiot police use water cannons to disperse people protesting the death of Berkin Elvan in Istanbul on March 11, 2014. #
AP Photo/Emrah Gurel -
![]()
Read moreRiot police use water cannons to disperse demonstrators in the Kadikoy district of Istanbul on March 11, 2014. #
Reuters/Stringer -
-
![]()
Read moreA masked demonstrator clashes with riot police following the funeral of Berkin Elvan in Istanbul on March 12, 2014. #
AP Photo/Emrah Gurel -
![]()
Read moreA riot-police officer fires toward demonstrators in Istanbul on March 11, 2014. #
AP Photo / Emrah Gurel -
![]()
Read moreRiot policemen shield themselves as fireworks thrown by anti-government protesters explode near central Taksim Square in Istanbul on March 12, 2014. #
Reuters/Osman Orsal -
-
![]()
Read moreA demonstrator strikes a defiant pose as riot police use water cannons and teargas to disperse thousands marching for Berkin Elvan in Istanbul, Turkey, on March 12, 2014. #
AP Photo/Emrah Gurel
We want to hear what you think about this article. Submit a letter to the editor or write to letters@theatlantic.com.