Boy’s death spurs anti-Erdogan feeling in EU parliament

During a debate in Strasbourg on the 11 March 2014, Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) and EU officials paid tribute to Berkin Elvan, a teenage boy who had died earlier on the same day in a hospital in Ankara after 269 days in a coma.

The boy had been hit in the head by a tear-gas canister during anti-government demonstrations during Summer 2013.

Subsequently, protesters and riot police clashed across Turkey after mourning the teenager, leading to two further people dying.

On the 15 March 2014 Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that Berkin Elvan had links to terrorism. Commentators suggested that Mr Erdogan's comments could further inflame political tensions ahead of local elections on 30 March 2014.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: Constitutional reform must be top priority for Turkey, say MEPs http://www.europeansources.info/record/constitutional-reform-must-be-top-priority-for-turkey-say-meps/

ESO: Background information: Turkey: the 2013 progress report and beyond http://www.europeansources.info/record/turkey-the-2013-progress-report-and-beyond/

ESO: Background Information: Fresh clashes between protesters, police in Istanbul http://www.europeansources.info/record/fresh-clashes-between-protesters-police-in-istanbul/

EurActiv, 12.03.14: Protestors clash in Turkey ahead of local election http://www.euractiv.com/enlargement/protestors-clash-turkey-ahead-lo-news-534073

Deutsche Welle, 12.03.14: Thousands of Turks gather for Berkin Elvan's funeral http://dw.de/p/1BNoE

The Guardian, 12.03.14: Funeral of Turkish boy Berkin Elvan brings thousands to Istanbul streets http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/mar/12/funeral-turkish-boy-berkin-elvan-thousands-istanbul-streets-protests-tear-gas-canister

Euronews, 12.03.14: Turkish police fire water cannon on Istanbul protesters http://www.euronews.com/2014/03/12/turkish-police-fire-water-cannon-on-istanbul-protesters/

The New York Times, 12.03.14: Across Turkey, New Unrest as Teenage Boy Is Buried http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/13/world/europe/funeral-of-turkish-boy-leads-to-more-violent-clashes.html

Deutsche Welle, 13.03.14: Violent clashes follow funeral of Turkish teenager http://dw.de/p/1BOoz

The Guardian, 12.03.14: Turkish police fire teargas at crowds mourning boy injured in protests http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/mar/12/turkish-police-teargas-crowds-mourning-berkin-elvan

BBC News, 13.03.14: Turkey mass protests: 'Two dead' after teenager's funeral http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-26555745

Euronews, 13.03.14: Turkey: Erdogan says protests ‘nothing to do with democracy’ http://www.euronews.com/2014/03/13/turkey-erdogan-says-protests-nothing-to-do-with-democracy/

Deutsche Welle, 13.03.14: Death of Gezi Park protest victim enrages Turkey http://dw.de/p/1BPDh

BBC News, 15.03.14: Berkin Elvan: Turkish PM accuses dead boy of terror links http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-26594922

Hürriyet Daily News, 15.03.14: It's time to think, Hürriyet calls http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/its-time-to-think-hurriyet-calls.aspx?pageID=238&nID=63616&NewsCatID=338

Hürriyet Daily News, 15.03.14: Turkish FM Davutoğlu: Human rights are not interior affairs http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/turkish-fm-davutoglu-human-rights-are-not-interior-affairs.aspx?PageID=238&NID=63612&NewsCatID=409

Spiegel online International, 19.03.14: Erdogan and the Traitors: Scandal and Protests Threaten Turkey's AKP http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/turkish-prime-minister-erdogan-facing-corruption-scandal-protests-a-959453.html

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