Nationwide anti - government protests are largest in Turkey in decade . Police crackdown on peaceful protests against plans to the park sparked riots . So far , Erdogan 's robust and muscular stance vis-à-vis the demonstrators has reinforced those perceptions . Protests spread from Istanbul to 67 of 81 of Turkey 's provinces . Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan calls crackdown ' excessive ' but says he 's not a dictator .
Nationwide anti - government protests are largest in Turkey in decade . Police crackdown on peaceful protests against plans to the park sparked riots . Protests spread from Istanbul to 67 of 81 of Turkey 's provinces . Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan calls crackdown ' excessive ' but says he 's not a dictator .