Last Saturday, two powerful bombs turned a peaceful rally in Ankara into a bloody nightmare. According to the People’s Democratic Party`s (HDP) estimates, 128 people have been killed and over five hundred injured.
The anger against the government of president Erodgan became evident in the immediate aftermath of the massacre, as tens of thousands of people took to the streets shouting slogans against the government, chanting “murderer Erdogan, murderer police.” According to news reports, immediately following the horrific attack, the government censored news coverage and banned all photographs and any associated images “that create fear and panic." Officials warned that any Turkish media organizations violating the ban would face “permanent blackout.” This week, we’ll have a conversation with Istanbul-based political scientist Dr. Osman Şahin about the massacre in Ankara and the increasing frequency of attacks on peaceful gatherings in Turkey.