A performance artist named Erdem Gunduz stood silently for eight hours only steps from Gezi Park in Taksim Square, Istanbul, facing a portrait of Kemal Ataturk, who founded modern secular Turkey.
Gunduz was joined in his peaceful protest by hundreds of other demonstrators, reports the BBC. Gunduz said he wanted to take a stand after police evicted protesters from Taksim Square on Saturday.
Gunduz began his demonstration around 18:00 on Monday, standing with hands in pockets and a bag and bottles of water at his feet, without violating the ban on gatherings in the square, according to the . He persisted until 2:00 when police forced demonstrators out. Ten who refused to leave were detained.
“I'm nothing... The idea is important: why people resist the government. The government doesn't want to understand, didn't try to understand why people are on the streets. This is really silent resistance,” Gunduz said. “I hope people stop and think ‘what happened there?’”
Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, whose portrait Gunduz faced throughout the eight hours, is responsible for founding modern secular Turkey. Protesters have been largely angry with conservative Muslim Prime Minister Erdogan’s religious, authoritarian tendencies.
Friends of Gunduz surrounded him to prevent any other protesters from approaching him, so that he could easily remain in his silent, standing position for the demonstration to fully work, according to the Herald Sun
“We want to protect him from any provocation," said one friend, Asma, a young Turkish woman, while she kept onlookers from approaching.
As of Tuesday, hundreds of people have gathered peacefully on Taksim Square to stand facing the portrait of Ataturk.
Images: Twitter, Twitter, Twitter
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