Turkish police disperse pro-Kurdish protests
Pepper spray and detentions used after rallies over Syria tensions
Turkish police used pepper spray and detained several people while dispersing protests in multiple cities where demonstrators rallied in solidarity with Syrian Kurds. Heavily deployed security forces moved into central squares and main streets after declaring the gatherings unauthorized, pushing crowds into side streets and sealing off areas to prevent regrouping.
Witnesses said protesters chanted slogans and carried banners supporting Kurdish-held areas of Syria. Medical teams attended to people affected by pepper spray; authorities reported no serious injuries. Police described the demonstrations as a threat to public order and accused some participants of trying to provoke unrest.
The rallies followed a significant shift in northern Syria after Kurdish-led forces agreed to withdraw from large areas under a ceasefire with the Syrian government, enabling Syrian troops to advance and consolidate control. That development has raised regional tensions and sparked intense debate in Turkey over its Syria policy and national security posture.
Ankara views key Kurdish groups in northern Syria as linked to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), which it considers an outlawed militant organization, and points to past cross-border operations and a military presence in parts of Syria as necessary measures to protect its borders. Authorities said demonstrations tied to Syria and Kurdish issues are particularly sensitive and warned that further unauthorized protests would be met with firm action.
Opposition politicians and rights groups condemned the police response, arguing many gatherings were peaceful and the use of pepper spray and arrests was disproportionate. They said the incident highlights persistent tensions in Turkey over freedom of assembly, Kurdish rights and government policy toward Syria. Security officials, meanwhile, maintained the need to prevent unrest amid a volatile regional backdrop, keeping forces on high alert and monitoring public spaces closely.
