Protests

A resident of the eastern Aegean island of Lesvos has been identified as one of the assailants in a vandalism attack last month against riot police officers sent there to quell unrest over plans to build a new migrant facility.

Istanbul prosecutors have issued a new detention warrant for businessman Osman Kavala, shortly after he was acquitted on terrorism charges in a trial pertaining to the 2013 Gezi Park protests.

An Istanbul court on Feb. 18 ruled to acquit businessman Osman Kavala and nine other defendants of charges of "attempting to overthrow the government" during the nationwide Gezi Park protests in 2013.

Amnesty International on Feb. 1 warned that India was becoming a dangerous place for peaceful protesters, citing ruling party leaders' remarks against demonstrators protesting a citizenship law passed last year.

Iraqi security forces fired tear gas and live rounds during clashes with anti-government protesters overnight and on Jan. 20 morning in Baghdad, wounding at least 13 demonstrators and prompting authorities to close key streets and thoroughfares leading to the city center, officials said.

Turkey's state-run Anadolu Agency said on Jan. 15 that Egyptian security forces raided their Cairo office and took four journalists into custody, including a Turkish national, to an unknown destination.

Lebanese protesters blocked several roads around the capital of Beirut and in other areas of the country on Jan. 14 in renewed rallies against the ruling elite they say has failed to address the economy's downward spiral.

Nearly 250 million workers strike in India in protest of Modi's economic policies, AFP reported.

Banking and other sectors of the economy across India have suffered damage as millions of workers strike in protest against the economic policies of the Hindu nationalist government, especially against the planned sale of several state-owned companies, including Air India.

French police used tear gas to disperse protesters in front of President Emmanuel Macron's party headquarters, DPA and BTA reported. The protest was held against the background of the ongoing strike against the pension reform.

Dozens of protesters fled after being covered by thick clouds of tear gas in the narrow streets near the Paris Opera House. 

A court in Israel ordered settlers to evacuate a home in Hebron they had been living in since 2005 as an Israeli firm had not legally purchased it from its original Palestinian owners.

According to local media reports, the Jerusalem District Court ruled that the company used illegal means to purchase the house, which belonged to the Bakri family.