Turkish President Abdullah Gul stated Monday that the messages given with well intentions have been understood regarding the Taksim Gezi Park protests.
Democracy did not mean elections only and if there were different remarks, conditions and objections, it was natural to represent different views and objections by various means, Gul told in a press statement.
"All messages with good will have been understood. We will definitely do what is necessary when the time comes. From our experiences, such social incidents might be manipulated by illegal organizations and dragged into the wrong direction. I invite all Turkish citizens to act with common sense. Everyone must obey the rules and express their objections and opinions peacefully. All acts that may tarnish our reputation are unacceptable from now on and must not be allowed," Gul stated.
He added that those well intentions would meet the case when the right day would come and called on everyone to pay attention hereafter and added, "Turkey is a country that is governed by democratic rules. Turkey believes in the rule of law. It is possible in Turkey to appeal to higher courts to challenge the court rulings. So, all the rules are within the scope of the Western democratic standards. At first, everyone should acknowledge that [...] In democracies, things come into place through the popular will. But democracy does not only mean elections. It is natural that different views and objections are voiced by various means. Peaceful demonstrations are a part of this right".
Gul noted that each idea, opinion and faith were all respectable in Turkey and said, "We live in an open society. We should respect each other's different views, thoughts, political tendencies and beliefs. It should no doubt be a mutual love and respect. Every individual should feel himself free in his own country to the greatest extent."
During the Taksim sit-in protests in which police intervened on Friday by using tear gas and water cannon against the protestors, 1,730 people were detained, 115 policemen and 58 citizens were injured and 89 police vehicles, 42 private vehicles, 22 buses and 94 business places were damaged. Those staging the sit-in protested the demolition of Gezi Park and uprooting of the trees.
Protests highly took place in Turkish capital Ankara, Istanbul and Izmir besides several cities around the world.
