Erdogan protesters beaten, ejected from New York speech

London: Violence erupted at a New York hotel after protesters heckled a speech by Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan with chants of "terrorist", reports BBC.

Mr Erdogan was addressing supporters in Turkish at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in Times Square when he was interrupted by several demonstrators.

"You're a terrorist, get out of my country," one protester shouted before he was punched and dragged away.

Mr Erdogan is in New York for the UN General Assembly.

In footage from the speech on Thursday, protesters are seen being pushed and punched in the head as they are ejected from the venue by suited men.  It is not clear at this stage if they were pro-Erdogan attendees, presidential bodyguards, or guards providing security at the hotel.

The demonstrators, who later posted images of the clashes on social media, said their aim was to publicly condemn the president's policies in Turkey, Syria and Iraq.

Some protesters carried flags and banners in support of the Kurdish militant group, the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG).  Mr Erdogan sees the YPG as an extension of the banned Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which has fought for Kurdish autonomy in Turkey for three decades. He has repeatedly said that he will never accept a US alliance with Kurdish forces fighting in Syria.

Supporters of Mr Erdogan can be heard shouting the president's name in the footage, in attempts to muffle the protesters' chants.  One protester, Meghan Bodette, wrote on Twitter that she had been "thrown out" of the hotel.

"Yes. I stood up with YPJ flag... was pulled from chair and removed," she wrote, adding: "I got escorted out and ran, some friends were briefly questioned."

The YPJ is an all-female Kurdish military group - the women's equivalent of the YPG.  Another Twitter user, Gissur Simonarson‏, posted images taken from amateur video footage showing a number of protesters being violently attacked.

One eyewitness, Halil Demir, said he saw a man being pushed to the ground after interrupting Mr Erdogan's speech. Mr Demir said he later saw a second man outside the hotel in handcuffs on the floor, the New York Times reports.

Mr Erdogan was speaking at the invitation of the Turkish American National Steering Committee.

 

Erdogan protesters beaten, ejected from New York speech

London: Violence erupted at a New York hotel after protesters heckled a speech by Turkeys President Recep Tayyip Erdogan with chants of terrorist, reports BBC. Mr Erdogan was addressing supporters in Turkish at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in Times Square when he was interrupted by several demonstrators. Youre a terrorist, get out of my country, one protester shouted before he was punched and dragged away. Mr Erdogan is in New York for the UN General Assembly. In footage from the speech on Thursday, protesters are seen being pushed and punched in the head as they are ejected from the venue by suited men. It is not clear at this stage if they were pro-Erdogan attendees, presidential bodyguards, or guards providing security at the hotel. The demonstrators, who later posted images of the clashes on social media, said their aim was to publicly condemn the presidents policies in Turkey, Syria and Iraq. Some protesters carried flags and banners in support of the Kurdish militant group, the Kurdish Peoples Protection Units (YPG). Mr Erdogan sees the YPG as an extension of the banned Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), which has fought for Kurdish autonomy in Turkey for three decades. He has repeatedly said that he will never accept a US alliance with Kurdish forces fighting in Syria. Supporters of Mr Erdogan can be heard shouting the presidents name in the footage, in attempts to muffle the protesters chants. One protester, Meghan Bodette, wrote on Twitter that she had been thrown out of the hotel. Yes. I stood up with YPJ flag... was pulled from chair and removed, she wrote, adding: I got escorted out and ran, some friends were briefly questioned. The YPJ is an all-female Kurdish military group - the womens equivalent of the YPG. Another Twitter user, Gissur Simonarson, posted images taken from amateur video footage showing a number of protesters being violently attacked. One eyewitness, Halil Demir, said he saw a man being pushed to the ground after interrupting Mr Erdogans speech. Mr Demir said he later saw a second man outside the hotel in handcuffs on the floor, the New York Times reports. Mr Erdogan was speaking at the invitation of the Turkish American National Steering Committee.