Turk Teacher Protest

Water canons push back when teachers protest education bill in Turkey

Umit Bektas / Reuters

Sebahat Tuncel, a Kurdish member of parliament, runs for cover as riot police disperse demonstrators during a protest against a government attempt to railroad a new education bill through parliament in Ankara March 29. Members of teachers' union and opposition supporters gathered in the Turkish capital of Ankara to protest against a government attempt to railroad the new education bill through parliament which secular parties say is designed to promote Islamic schooling. The government wants to overturn a 1997 law imposed with the backing of the military which extended compulsory education from five to eight years, but also stopped under-15s attending religious "imam hatip" schools.

Adem Altan / AFP - Getty Images

Police use tear gas to disperse demonstrators during a protest against a government attempt to railroad a new education bill through parliament in Ankara, Turkey, on March 29. Police used tear gas and water cannons to break up the demonstration, which had been called by the KESK public service union with the aim of marching on parliament.

Adem Altan / AFP - Getty Images

Police use water cannon to disperse demonstrators during a protest against a government attempt to railroad a new education bill through parliament in Ankara, Turkey, on March 29.

Adem Altan / AFP - Getty Images

Police use water cannon to disperse demonstrators during a protest against a government attempt to railroad a new education bill through parliament in Ankara, Turkey, on March 29.

Adem Altan / AFP - Getty Images

Police use water cannon to disperse demonstrators during a protest against a government attempt to railroad a new education bill through parliament in Ankara, Turkey on March 29.