Turkey attacks Kurdish protesters as world shrugs
Police brutality has reared its head as demonstrations continue in Diyarbakir over the replacement of three Kurdish mayors in Turkey’s Kurdish-majority southeast by state appointees.
![TURKEY-SECURITY/KURDS Police use a water cannon to disperse demonstrators during a protest against the replacement of Kurdish mayors with state officials in three cities, in Diyarbakir, Turkey, August 20, 2019. REUTERS/Sertac Kayar - RC13B9CF81F0](/sites/default/files/styles/article_hero_medium/public/almpics/2019/08/RTS2N5UI.jpg/RTS2N5UI.jpg?h=a5ae579a&itok=J73NOExa)
Protests over the dismissal of three Kurdish mayors from key cities in Turkey’s Kurdish-majority southeast region continued for a third day amid shocking displays of police brutality against civilians.
In the Kurds’ informal capital of Diyarbakir, Remziye Tosun, a lawmaker for the left-leaning and Kurd-friendly People’s Democratic Party (HDP), collapsed on the ground as riot police backed by armored personnel carriers sought to disperse protesting crowds with high-pressure hoses. Several journalists covering the scene were beaten by the police, who also used plastic bullets, tear gas and clubs.