The single protester, choreographer Erdem Gunduz, decided to get around a ban on demonstrations in Istanbul's Taksim Square by standing quietly still for eight hours on Monday night.
The protest quickly went viral under the hashtag #duranadam (standing man) and attracted several copycats before they were all dispersed by police. Around 10 demonstrators were detained.
"I am just an ordinary citizen of this country," Erdem Gunduz told Hurriyet TV. "We want our voices to be heard."
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On Tuesday, dozens of mostly young demonstrators held their own silent vigil in the square, standing still in the afternoon sun not saying a word, as police looked on without intervening.
The silent protests are in contrast to violent anti-government clashes over the past three weeks.
Overnight in Ankara, riot police used teargas and water cannon to disperse hundreds of people who had gathered in and around the government quarter of Kizilay.
Interior Minister Muammer Guler said 62 people had been detained in Turkey's biggest city, Istanbul, and 23 in the capital, Ankara. The state broadcaster TRT said 13 had been held in Eskisehir.
Western countries have expressed concern about the police's handling of the protests against Erdogan, whose authority rests on three successive election victories, the last achieved with 50 percent support.
Critics accuse him of disregarding the half of the population who did not vote for him, and some say he has connived to subvert the secular constitution and create an order based on religious principles - something Erdogan denies.
ERDOGAN CLAIMS VICTORY
The Prime Minister has claimed victory over the protesters after a heavy crackdown, as police raided homes and arrested dozens of demonstrators in a bid to stamp out the unrest.
"Our democracy has been tested again and came out victoriously," the premier told members of his ruling Justice and Development party (AKP) to roaring applause.
"The people and the AKP government have foiled the plot... hatched by traitors and their foreign accomplices."
Confident he has weathered the storm, he warned against any resurgence of the protests.
"From now on, there will be no question of showing any tolerance to people or organisations who engage in violent acts."
His comments came as police carried out raids at homes across the country, detaining over 100 demonstrators.
Meanwhile, Hurriyet Daily News reported that the justice ministry was working on legislation to regulate social media.
Erdogan lashed out at Twitter at the start of the unrest, branding it a "troublemaker" and accusing the online messaging service of spreading "lies".
Turkey's crisis began when a sit-in to save Gezi's 600 trees from being razed prompted a brutal police response on May 31.
