The efforts of thousands who occupied Gezi Park, and those who joined them in solidarity via social media from around the world, have paid off. According to Reuters, a Turkish court has ruled against the Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan-backed development in which proposed to redesign Istanbul’s iconic Taksim Square and replace one of the populated city’s few public parks with a mall.
Although authorities are expected to appeal the ruling, this news marks a significant victory for the coalition of political forces who opposed the project.
For more about the Gezi Park protests, read our previous coverage:
- When Urban Planning Gets Political: The History of Taksim Square
- Turkey: Fighting for Freedom of Speech and Freedom of Space
Follow #direngezipark on Twitter for live updates.