Turkish protesters have invented a new verb: ‘chapul’
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Ergodan hasn’t exactly been conciliatory toward protesters over the past week, condemning "extremists" and "bandits" for trying to destabilize the country. He also strongly objects to Twitter, which he has accused of being the "worst menace to society." Menace or not, Erdogan’s reference to protesters as "capulcu" (looters) has taken ...
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Ergodan hasn't exactly been conciliatory toward protesters over the past week, condemning "extremists" and "bandits" for trying to destabilize the country. He also strongly objects to Twitter, which he has accused of being the "worst menace to society."
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Ergodan hasn’t exactly been conciliatory toward protesters over the past week, condemning "extremists" and "bandits" for trying to destabilize the country. He also strongly objects to Twitter, which he has accused of being the "worst menace to society."
Menace or not, Erdogan’s reference to protesters as "capulcu" (looters) has taken Twitter by storm. Turkish social media users have anglicized the word to "chapul" — and they’re bearing it proudly.
According to one Urban Dictionary definition, chapul is a verb that signifies "resistance to force" — to "demand justice" and "seek one’s right."
To use the word in a sentence you could say one of the following:
I haven’t #chapulled for 2 days but I will #chapul soon! You know the address 😉 #occupygezi #occupyistanbul #direngeziparki
— Ece (@a_homesickalien) June 5, 2013
I wish I could chapul in Istanbul!! #occupygezi #direngezipark? #chapul #chapulling #çapulcuyum #taksim #istanbul
— Bir Annenin Renkleri (@BirAnneRenkleri) June 5, 2013
My fresh new motto is: ‘Dress classy, #chapul cheesy!’ Oppa #Taksim style!
— Biranda Gerr (@BirandaGerr) June 5, 2013
On my way to #chapul some more! #DirenGeziParki #OccupyTaksim 3 dead, 100+ inured & arrested #Erdogan yet to back of from developing #Gezi !
— Yegâne ÇAPULCU (@YeganeG) June 5, 2013
Even Noam Chomsky has gotten in on the action:
It’ll be hard, though, for activists to top this:
For more fun with the Turkish protests, be sure to check out Andy Carvin’s collection of humorous political art.
Neha Paliwal is a former editorial assistant and researcher at Foreign Policy.
More from Foreign Policy

Chinese Hospitals Are Housing Another Deadly Outbreak
Authorities are covering up the spread of antibiotic-resistant pneumonia.

Henry Kissinger, Colossus on the World Stage
The late statesman was a master of realpolitik—whom some regarded as a war criminal.

The West’s False Choice in Ukraine
The crossroads is not between war and compromise, but between victory and defeat.

The Masterminds
Washington wants to get tough on China, and the leaders of the House China Committee are in the driver’s seat.