AK Party official: Taksim protests were planned

Deputy Chairman of the ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party, Huseyin Celik on Sunday said that the Taksim protests which erupted were discussed at the "American Entrepreneur Institute" under the headline "A possible revolt in Istanbul" in February this year. Celik explained, "The picture fell into place. The place which was chosen was Istanbul's Taksim. The apolitical youth was politicized and sent to the streets (...) This shows that for all these a scenario was written and that these were led by some people." "The Gezi Park protests have started as an innocent event but diverted. And right there the conspiracy with the "code name Istanbul rebellion" was led up to the point they wanted," Celik noted and added that the Turkish population placed the responsibility for the incidents on foreign groups. "Yes there are people who write scenarios for us but it's our will to play this game or not," Celik underlined. AK Party official Soylu said that the protests were part of a scenario Deputy Chairman of the ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party, Suleyman Soylu also said, "Don't search for the beginning of the happenings today at other places. I want you to think about that, that you were a part of a scenario of those who try to shape this nation, to bring them to the point they want to." Soylu also said, "They turned the mosques into stalls yesterday. In the past they insulted our mosques and our blessed values. Now, the same mentality is no different."