Watson: Erdogan is known as vindictive
Chaos continued in Taksim Square today as demonstrators and government forces clashed in the streets of Istanbul.
CNN's Ivan Watson says demonstrators in Turkey fear Prime Minister Erdogan will punish them for protesting against the government. "A number of tweeters in the port city of Izmir, more than 30, were detained and now starting to face charges for inciting violence over social media, which Erdogan has called a menace to society," Watson tells Anderson Cooper.
Christiane Amanpour speaks to the prime minister's authoritative streak and opposition to criticism. "They put a huge number of journalists in jail. There's very little space for political dissent, and after three terms ... people are becoming sort of angry," she says.
 |
Post by: Anderson Cooper Filed under: Christiane Amanpour • Ivan Watson • Turkey |
About this Show:
Anderson Cooper goes beyond the headlines to tell stories from many points of view, so you can make up your own mind about the news. Tune in weeknights at 8 and 10 ET on CNN.
Questions or comments? Send an email
Want to know more? Go behind the scenes with AC361°
Subscribe to the podcast
On Twitter
Search the AC360 blog
Thank you Ivan Watson , you and Arwa Dawson were the only people who made sense and have really good grasp of what is going on in Turkey during the hours and hours broadcast last night. Sorry Amanpour and Erin Brunett, very disappointed. Please do no make any comments without knowing the facts and history.
This is not happened only in Istanbul and you should say that is happen 50 different cities in Turkey. The protester want to have more freedom but Erdogan start push the people very hard. Also, you should talk about his correptions since he was mayor of the Istanbul. His son is student at Harward University in Boston, MA and he has his on ship and grocery company he just sold it. Erdogan doesn't have that mcuh money. We don't want who attact tomhis own people.
Mr. Cooper, there is no democracy in Turkey, this fundamentalist government is worse than a dictator.
Any time US supports an Islamist group or government , it ended up with severe problems. All good people from Turkey and all Turkish people from all around the world is begging Obama to express very strong criticism to prime minister, RTE ASAP. Otherwise, he thinks there is no one on this world who will stop him to do what he is doing, and has been doing. We all afraid if US do not warne him, make him understand he will be in trouble if he does not stop antidemocratic actions, a lot of innocent people will die, Turkish people have always loved American people . I believe in Karma, so please make Tayyip stop before more people die.
In your coverage tonight I heard a lot of commentary about Erdogan's personality and governing style, but not so much about the concrete reasons to protest against him: the most prosecuted journalists in the world, the heads of the military jailed based on trumped up charges in a power bid, the development around the country with no local input allowed, the continued imposition of conservative values, the recent legal crackdown on alcohol. For example, why are there no local Turkish journalists talking on your show - I would assume because of the ongoing culture of legal intimidation of them.