MEPs join the chorus of condemnation over the violence against protestors in Turkey after what started as a small demo mushroomed into a countrywide protest.

Turkish revolt

Violent clashes at Istanbul's Taksim Square  as protestors and police face off.

Two weeks ago, what started out  as a small demo

by secularists and conservationists  over plans to redevelop Gezi Park

Thousands have been injured  in the violence.

Global condemnation of police brutality  and disregard of basic human rights

The Green Party invited Turkish Movement  representatives to Strasbourg.

It's important we get people  from Turkey to talk to us

about what's happening in Istanbul  and other cities

and it's vital that the European Parliament  strongly condemns the police violence,

the tear gassing of protestors, of people  who are just standing up for a few trees,

for their right to take part  in decision making

and to strongly say that this is not worthy  of an EU candidate country.

Telling tales of violence and solidarity,

Memet Ali Alabora, who has been involved  since the start, joined the debate via Skype.

After the use of violence  against peaceful people,

the matter also became a protest against  the violence against freedom of expression.

People then started to express themselves

on matters that they didn't think  they could express before.

MEPs debated the situation  in Turkey with Catherine Ashton,

the High Representative for the Union  for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy,

passing a resolution condemning  the excessive use of force by police.

In Turkey, in an effort to placate protestors,  the AK Party said it'd consider a referendum

on the redevelopment of Gezi Park.  But will that be enough?

If you stop the violence it is not enough  to say they have changed the system.

We also have to look at whether  the Erdogan government

is no longer going in the right direction  in order to meet the values of the EU

or we have to develop ideas  for a new type of relationship with Turkey,