[REVISION HISTORY]

Turkish veterans continue Ankara protests after police move

Updated 9 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

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2026-08-25 02:39 UTC → 2026-08-25 14:47 UTC · added ~~removed~~

Since mid‑July 2026, veterans of Turkey’s anti‑terrorism forces and families of fallen soldiers have maintained a sit‑in in Ankara, demanding equal pensions, medical aid, prosthetic support, salary parity, and housing assistance. Following a period of occupation at Güvenpark and a subsequent hunger strike, police intervened on 19 August to remove protesters, transporting them to the Bilkent Gazi Uyumevi. By 21 August, the demonstrations entered their 41st day. Protesters moved their activities to Kurtuluş Park after being cleared from Güvenpark. Erdem Çerçioğlu, President of the Association of Martyr Families and Veterans, accused authorities of making life difficult at the Bilkent facility, claiming they are being denied access to it. Protesters also reported being moved between locations by police and expressed frustration with what they described as stalling tactics by the Ministry of Family and Social Services. The Union of Turkish Bar Associations (TBB) has criticized the police interventions, stating that preventing peaceful protests violates the Constitution and international law. Following their release from the Bilkent facility, protesters attempted to march toward the Ministries of Interior, Family and Social Services, and National Defense but were blocked by police barricades. During these tensions, İYİ Party Deputy Chairman and Bursa MP Selçuk Türkoğlu was hospitalized at Hacettepe University Hospital. While the İYİ Party claims Türkoğlu was injured following an attack by a security official while supporting the protesters, party official Turhan Çömez stated that Türkoğlu suffered a heart spasm during the incident. On 24 August, following his hospitalization after a police intervention in Kurtuluş Park, Türkoğlu communicated via social media that he is doing well and intends to pursue legal action against those responsible. Veterans' representatives have criticized former Defense Minister Hulusi Akar for describing the protesters as a ‘very small minority’ and suggesting they were being exploited for political gain.

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