Istanbul violence continues
Tourists and expatriates heading to Istanbul for a bit of culture before their summer beach holiday should be aware that protests in the centre of the city are continuing, with police making use of tear gas, water cannons and rubber bullets in an effort to disperse protestors.
Tourists and expatriates heading to Istanbul for a bit of culture before their summer beach holiday should be aware that protests in the centre of the city are continuing, with police making use of tear gas, water cannons and rubber bullets in an effort to disperse protestors.
The violence began as an environmental protest that hoped to stop the construction of a shopping centre in one of Istanbul’s most popular parks. The protest quickly became about the government and its leader, Tayyip Erdogan, who has been accused of taking an increasingly authoritarian stance in matters of state. On the night of 11 June, Turkish riot police battled with protestors for control of Taksim Square, the scene of most of the protests, using water cannon and tear gas. In Istanbul’s main courthouse, 50 lawyers who attempted to start a sit-in to protest against the way in which other protestors had been handled were apparently forcibly removed, although they were later released.
The Turkish Medical Association says that around 5,000 people have been wounded during the running battles between protestors and police, with three fatalities. The UK’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office warned travellers: “Further demonstrations remain possible in cities across Turkey. We advise British nationals to avoid all demonstrations and to follow the advice of the police or local authorities.” The US State Department issued this warning to its citizens: “US citizens travelling to or residing in Turkey should be alert to the potential for violence. We strongly urge US citizens to avoid demonstrations and large gatherings. Even demonstrations intended to be peaceful can turn confrontational and escalate into violence.”
Caroline Lloyd, travel insurance expert at UK insurance comparison site Gocompare, said of the issue of travel insurance coverage during the unrest: “Most of the big insurance underwriters include civil unrest, commotion or rebellion as part of their exclusions. Therefore, they wouldn't pay out if your holiday was ruined by the protests. It is well worth checking the small print of your travel insurance documents before you go to make sure that you are covered.” She added: “It might also be worth checking the small print if you are flying into the major airports, such as Istanbul. If your flight is delayed due to civil unrest, again, you might not be covered. Make sure you know what you are insured for before you go and ensure that the cover is adequate for the cost of the holiday.”
“Situations like these just go to show the benefits of booking travel insurance at the same time as you book your holiday. Unforeseen events like this can happen at any time, and being covered early means you might be able to get some recompense if you've got the right kind of policy, whereas, if you have already booked your holiday but haven't got insurance yet, you might struggle to get covered.”
Image: The usually peaceful Taksim Square
Image credit: Bryce Edwards