Former Ambassador to Turkey James F. Jeffrey defended the use of force by police in Turkey’s Taksim Square Thursday afternoon at a discussion on the unrest in Turkey at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy.
"At least some of the demonstrators, particularly the violent ones … do violently challenge the state and the state has a legitimate right to go after violent demonstrators," Jeffrey said. "The state also has a right after a week or so to clear out the largest thoroughfare in Istanbul … which is Taksim Square."
Jeffrey’s remarks prompted an outcry from a member of Amnesty International, who accused him of dismissing the use of excessive force. Jeffrey reiterated that excessive force should be condemned but the police have a right to clear public areas occupied for an extended amount of time.
Protests erupted in Taksim Square after protestors rallied against a proposed shopping mall that would replace the adjacent and historic Gezi Park. The protests have widened in scope as Turkey’s youth rally against increasingly unpopular government policies.
Police have responded with water cannons and tear gas, winning temporary respite only to be greeted again by fresh protests as the gas clouds disperse.
The use of excessive force in Taksim Square has been the subject of international debate in the past week as protestors clashed with riot police. This week the European Parliament passed a non-binding motion expressing its concern for "the disproportionate and excessive use of force" by Turkish Police.
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Erdogan lashed back, saying, "I won’t recognize the decision that the European Union Parliament is going to take about us … who do you think you are by taking such a decision?"
However, in a change of tone Thursday afternoon Erdogan pledged to meet with protestors to defuse the protests that are soon to enter their third week.