Turks respond to flag burning: Flags are everywhere

Following the ugly defilement of the Turkish flag yesterday by youths in Mersin, Turks have responded by draping their cities in red flags. All over Turkey, from Istanbul to Adana, flags can be seen hanging from the windows of citizens and businesses alike demonstrating their love and support of the Turkish nation. Even the football federation is showing its support as they distribute 20 thousand flags to supporters at the national game against Albania on Saturday. the support has stretched right across the country as far as Van, where a lone woman, Doctor Süheyla Dabbagoglu, walked down the street through the snow wearing the Turkish flag as a cloak. Tow youths have been arrested and are in custody following the events in Mersin last Sunday, when the Turkish flag was dragged along the ground and almost burned during a Nevruz (New Year) celebrations. The youths, identified as ‘V.S.’ and ‘C.S.’, are 14 and 12 years old. In a statement, Mersin Safety Director Representative Süleyman Ekizer said, “We have in hand the two people who dirtied the flag in a demonstration. They are being questioned very thoroughly. We are working to determine whether they acted alone or whether it was an organized event.” They also have taken into custody another youth, 15 year old R.T., for defiling the flag on the same day. �