Over the past two weeks Turkish people from all walks of life have turned out on the streets of Ankara and Istanbul to protest against Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan's Islamic-rooted government. Many have been surprised at the heavy-handed response from police.
The protesters are not confined to the young, or the politically active, but come from all walks of life.
Photojournalist Patrick Tombola spoke to some of them. His images capture the mood on Istanbul's Taksim Square.
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“We are not from any party, we are not following any ideological stuff. We all need peace, love… and people not limiting each other's rights.”
-- Dolunay Pircioğlu, 28, lawyer and actress
-- Sedar Bilis, 35, Theatre director
“In Kurdistan these kinds of protests have been happening all along. After 35 years Turkish people are finally able to understand us. Now people here are struggling all together without separating Turks and Kurds.” -- Özcan, 43, Kurdish, human resource manager
The unrest first erupted after police cracked down heavily on a campaign to save Istanbul's Gezi Park from demolition on May 31.
The trouble spiralled into nationwide displays of anger against Erdogan and his ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), seen as increasingly authoritarian. Authorities have used tear gas and water canon in a bid to stop the rallies.
Opponents accuse Erdogan, in power since 2002, of repressing critics -- including journalists, minority Kurds and the military -- and of pushing conservative Islamic values on the mainly Muslim but staunchly secular nation.
