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Turkish Turmoil: Scenes From Turkey's Protests

Scenes From Turkey's Protests

A protester with a slingshot stands behind a protective barrier from police.
Charles Emir Richards via Facebook

A series of protests in Turkey against the government of Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan has rocked that country since May 28, rattling investor confidence and hurting the country's currency.

The protesters, a loosely organized group of political liberals, secularists, students and professionals, have accused Erdogan and his AKP party of adhering increasingly to the demands of the party's conservative, religious elements. However, Erdogan remains popular in Turkey as a whole and has vowed not to back down from the protesters whom he variously labels as terrorists, vandals or saboteurs.

Many of the following images come from part-time photographer Charles Emir Richards, who posted them on June 2 on his Facebook page, with the message, "You don't need my permission to share the photos. I think it is especially important that people outside of Turkey share them to let it be known what is going on here."

Here, a protester with a slingshot stands behind a protective barrier from police. Click ahead for more scenes from the Turkish protests.

By Ted Kemp, CNBC.com
Posted 11 June 2013, updated 12 June

Huddling Under Ataturk

Protesters huddle under the Ataturk Monument in Taksim Square as police move in.
Charles Emir Richards via Facebook

Protesters huddle under a monument to Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of the Turkish secular state, in Istanbul's Taksim Square as police move in on June 11.

Taksim Square

Protesters gather in Taksim Square.
Charles Emir Richards via Facebook

Protesters gather in Taksim Square on June 11.

Tear Gas

Turkish riot police take cover from tear gas being unleashed.
Charles Emir Richards via Facebook

Turkish police are engulfed in a cloud of tear gas on June 11.

Man Against Vehicle

A protester attacks a police vehicle in Taksim Square, Istanbul, Turkey.
Charles Emir Richards via Facebook

A protester attacks a water-blasting police vehicle on June 11.

Protester Tear Gas

A protester runs with tear gas near Taksim Square in Istanbul, Turkey.
Charles Emir Richards via Facebook

A protester runs with a tear gas canister on June 11.

Protester Aid

Protesters aid one another after riot police used water cannons and tear gas to disperse the crowd during a demonstration near Taksim Square on June 11, 2013 in Istanbul, Turkey.
Getty Images

Two protesters in makeshift gas masks assist each other.

Police Tear Gas

Riot police fire tear gas to disperse the crowd during a demonstration near Taksim Square on June 11, 2013 in Istanbul, Turkey.
Getty Images

Turkish police fire tear gas at protesters in Taksim Square on June 11.

Vehicle Aflame

Charles Emir Richards via Facebook

Protesters set a Turkish police vehicle on fire in Istanbul.

Throwing Tear Gas

Protesters respond as riot police use tear gas to disperse the crowd during a demonstration near Taksim Square on June 11, 2013 in Istanbul, Turkey. Istanbul has seen protests rage on for days, with two protesters and one police officer killed
Getty Images

A protester hurls a canister of tear gas back into police ranks.

Clearing Taksim Square

Riot police use water cannons and tear gas to disperse the crowd during a demonstration near Taksim Square on June 11, 2013 in Istanbul, Turkey.
Getty Images

Police make a push to clear Taksim Square in Istanbul on June 11.

Taking Cover

A protestor wearing a gas mask takes cover as riot police use water cannons and tear gas to disperse the crowd during a demonstration near Taksim Square on June 11, 2013 in Istanbul, Turkey.
Getty Images

A protester takes cover behind a placard bearing the first name of Turkey's prime minister, Tayyip Erdogan.

Anonymous Mask

Turkish protesters in Taksim Square on June 5, 2013.
Charles Emir Richards via Facebook

A protester wears an Anonymous mask at Taksim Square in Istanbul on June 5.

Protester Fire

Charles Emir Richards via Facebook

A Turkish protester stands before a fire in Istanbul on June 2.

Nighttime Tear Gas

Charles Emir Richards via Facebook

A Turkish police officer fires tear gas on the night of June 2.

Shield Charge

Charles Emir Richards via Facebook

A group of police officers, some bearing protective shields, charges toward protesters on June 2.