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Assignment: Istanbul: Resisting Erdogan’s Bulldozer

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Istanbul:  Resisting Erdogan’s Bulldozer

04/06/2015

Istanbul: Resisting Erdogan’s Bulldozer

BBC World Service - Assignment, Istanbul: Resisting Erdogan’s Bulldozer

The run-down area of Istanbul standing against Erdogan’s bid for more power

The run-down neighbourhood in Istanbul standing against Erdogan’s bid for more power in Turkey.

Maria Margaronis visits a run-down district of Istanbul which has become a stronghold for the Kurdish People’s Democratic Party, seen by many as the only means of blocking Turkey’s President Tayyip Erdogan from gaining more power. The HDP counts radicals, feminists and leftists amongst its supporters as well as Kurdish nationalists who still dream of an independent state. It is hoping to garner more than 10% of the vote in Turkey’s upcoming elections on Sunday in order to stop Erdogan’s ruling Justice and Development Party from changing the constitution and giving the president more power.  

The neighbourhood is made up of Kurds, Roma and Syrian refugees as well transsexuals living in the shadow of a huge development project which the government hopes will improve the area and attract investors from the Middle East.

(Photo: Women canvassing for the Kurdish People’s Democratic Party (HDP) in Istanbul. BBC copyright)

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