Turkish police fired tear gas and water cannons to disperse thousands of people protesting an education reform bill that opponents say will boost the influence of Islamic schools.
Police broke up the demonstration Thursday, ending a two-day standoff with protesters who wanted to march toward Parliament where the bill is being debated. Some demonstrators used slingshots to hurl rocks at police, The Associated Press reported.
The reform proposal extends compulsory education from the current eight years to 12 and paves the way for middle school students to attend Islamic schools.
The bill reverses a military-imposed move dating back to 1997 that closed down religious middle schools and allowed only high school students to attend such institutions.
