Controversial playground near Atatürk's mausoleum removed

A controversial playground constructed near the Ankara mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founding father of the Turkish Republic,was removed after prompting anger on social media on Sept. 25. 

Earlier, The General Staff had announced it had unanimously decided to demolish the playground.

"The Anıtkabır Maintanance, Repair and Restoration Committee unanimously decided to remove the portable playground on Sept. 25," the General Staff said in the statement issued on its website.

The construction of the playground had drawn an angry reaction from some locals, with many complaining of "disrespect" to Turkey's founding leader.

The Ankara Chamber of Architects had issued a statement concerning the installment of the playground, with head Tezcan Karakuş Candan saying they had filed a written request with the Protection Council and the Anıtkabir Commandership for the removal of the playground. Candan added that they would file a criminal complaint against those who have committed such "disrespect." 

Meanwhile, a group of protesters removed some swings of the playground on Sept. 24 following a protest outside the mausoleum's gate.Istanbul welcomes third bridge over BosphorusLife in Jarablus after liberation from ISIL through the lens of Hürriyet reporter Selçuk ŞamiloğluGreenpeace's Rainbow Warrior traverses Istanbul's BosphorusHalfeti - A town of mesmerizing beautyExhibition shows Istanbul through eyes of children Secret weapons of Turkish army: locally produced rocket launchers, missile systemsThe bugs of Ankara: The weirdest scenes that anyone can run into in Turkish capitalA bird's eye view tour of Turkey's eastern provinces of Van and HakkariTurkish man with four wives has his 32nd childAirbus sunk for divers in Turkey's...