The real Turkey

"When hundreds of thousands of protesters filled the streets of Istanbul on Sunday, it may have looked like a protest of government policy.

It was not.

Behind the slogans and signs of marchers in Istanbul on Sunday and in Ankara two weeks ago was something much more basic: a fear of the lifestyles of their more religious compatriots. (...)"

In The New York Times.

"It was with a certain excitement that I got up in the morning, early, to head for the protest that everyone has already heard about.
If you've been living in a cave, Istanbul has been home to the biggest protest known in the history of our Republic, the Caglayan rally.
People from all over Turkey arrived in Istanbul early on a warm summeresque morning to voice their opinion on the current political affairs. (...)
Once we got closer to the meeting point, we got greeted by police men and women who were doing searches, just to make sure that we could rant in complete security. (...)
The press was already there but they weren't very welcome. The first rally that was organized in Ankara on the 14th of April had been badly covered and belittled by the press. Each time a journalist was spotted they were booed away. Especially the ones related to Dogan Media Conglomerate. (...)
Everyone stocked up on survival food and around 11.30 we were already singing and chanting slogans.
The incredible variety of citizens that was there was amazing. Students, elder people, villagers that came specially for the occasion, veterans... All side by side to defend their opinion. (...)
Minutes and hours passed by and speeches were made, songs were sung. Thousands and hundreds of thousands of people became one and revolted against the possibility of an Islamo Fascist near future. They demanded that all other parties become one and fight the AKP. (...)
Even though by that time it was already 6pm which had meant that I hadn't sat down for 8 hours. Exhaustion was close but it was all worth it.
The protest ended towards Tunnel in Beyoglu around 7pm. There was no violence. No provocation. No threat. It was just a warning."

By Idil Jans, in Metroblogging Istanbul.