Turkish activists are preparing to protest this Saturday to mark the first anniversary of nationwide protests calling for sweeping government reforms.

Thousands of activists are preparing to demonstrate in Istanbul and other Turkish cities to reiterate their call for the government to enact more democratic freedoms. Around 25,000 police officers and up to 50 water cannons were deployed to Istanbul Saturday in preparation for the protests, The Washington Post reported.

The Kadikoy district of Istanbul in particular is expecting a large number of protestors since activists will commemorate the first anti-government protests that began a year ago at the district's Gezi Park and Taksim Square.

Around 300 people also gathered in Nurtepe Cemevi, a prayer house, in Istanbul Saturday morning to remember Elif Cermik who died at age 64 Friday morning from a heart attack that doctors claim was triggered by tear gas fired by riot police during a December rally.

Cermik had been comatose for 159 days after attending the protest, at which she was protesting the deforestation of nothern parts of the city to make way for construction. She was struck with tear gas during the protest then went into a coma.

Istanbul sent 7,500 police to Taksim Square, in addition to 50 riot control vehicles. The Istanbul police department said they would not let crowds gather in the square.

Turkish police closed the entrance to the park after Taksim Solidarity, a group of protest movements, announced that they wanted to gather at Taksim Square to commemorate the protestors who died during clashes with police and continue to call for "healthy urbanization and a livable city."

Istanbul Gov. Huseyin Avni Mutlu said that no demonstrations would be allowed near or in the square.

Protestors are exepected to gather around 7 p.m. in Taksim Square.

The protests began May 31, 2013, as a small environmental demonstration and quickly grew into a nationwide anti-government movement. The demonstrations followed the government's decision to implement a redevelopment plan that included destroying part of Gezi Park in order to build a mall.

There were peaceful protests Saturday in Besiktas, and dozens of people gathered in Barbaros to remember the people who died during protests in the last year.

"We can solve all our problems in a peaceful way," a 60-year-old protestor named Makbule said. "There is no need for violence."

Related