Turkey protests continue

Protests have continued in Turkey as demonstrators defied a government appeal to end deadly unrest in which two people have died.

On Tuesday, Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arnic apologised for "excessive violence" against protesters trying to save a park in Istanbul, a campaign which acted as catatlyst for deeper tensions within the country. He is expected to meet with some of the protestors on Wednesday in Ankara.

Police used tear gas and water cannon overnight and into Wednesday morning on hundreds of protesters, who ignored warnings to disperse in Istanbul, Ankara and the southeastern city of Hatay.

In Istanbul, thousands gathered at Taksim Square yelling defiance at Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who had earlier dismissed the protesters as "extremists" and "vandals".

Note EU-Digest:   Ever since the election of Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his AK Party back in 2003 Turkey has been presented as a modern and mostly democratic state - a political model for the region.

Their economic progress has been spectacular even though the verdict at what price this has been really achieved is not yet in.

Supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt and the Ennahda party in Tunisia often say Erdogan and the AKP have proved that parties like theirs, which seek a greater role for Islam in politics, can govern and preserve democratic values.

Instead the contrary is shown to be true: there is suppression of anyone in the press which does not follow the party line. Turkey has jailed more journalists than any other country in the world. The government uses a heavy hand in pushing through legislation which closely follows the line of Sharia law and  enriches those in power to the point were it must be seen as pure corruption. 

Turkey's parliament has backed a controversial bill restricting the consumption and advertising of alcohol in the  predominantly Muslim country.

The measure, passed on Friday, May 31, prohibits alcoholic beverage companies from sponsoring events and restricts the places where such drinks can be consumed. It also bans the sale of alcoholic drinks between 10pm and 6:00am, but only in shops
The fact that the demonstrations have spread far from Istanbul where they started, to the capital Ankara and other cities and even small towns, indicates that the situation is feverish. If Erdogan continues to speak with "macho" contempt, he will surely aggravate the situation. He has enemies, not only in the streets, but in the army which he has deprived of their traditional role in guarding the secular constitution, which was its legacy from Ataturk.

For the first time since he came to power Erdogan’s position looks shaky. He would be well advised to draw back, abandon his plan to change the constitution and have himself elected to a more powerful presidency, and instead to seek to conciliate or appease the growing number of his critics.

Pushing ahead with his ever more Islamist agenda would be dangerously provocative. Secularly-minded Turks have evidently had enough of it.

Read more: Turkey protests continue despite apology - Europe - Al Jazeera English