A man who staged a protest in front of the Ministry for Family and Social Services in Ankara against the high cost of living in the country has been detained, the Birgün daily reported.
The incident took place on Monday morning in front of the ministry building in Çankaya.
When the man, whose name was not disclosed, began to shout and say that he is unable buy food, support his family and pay his rent, he was immediately detained by police officers in front of the ministry.
The man said he was overwhelmed by his financial problems and asked, “What should I do, should I kill myself?”
Birgün said, based on witness reports, that the man was subjected to mistreatment by the police during his detention.
The Ministry of Family and Social Services is among its other duties responsible for including those in need in the ministry’s social relief system to help them overcome the effects of poverty.
The Turkish people, more than 40 percent of whom earn the minimum wage of TL 11,402 ($420), are hard-hit by an economic crisis amid high inflation and the continuous depreciation of the Turkish lira, with many struggling to cover housing, food, energy and other expenses.
Turkey’s annual inflation stood at 47.83 percent in July, according to official data, although a separate study released by independent economists from the Inflation Research Group (ENAG) who question the official data put the July figure at 122.88 percent, up from 108.6 percent in June.
The Turkish lira has lost around 30 percent of its value since late May.
