An anti-dollar flash mob has been gaining traction in Turkey following the decline of the local currency, caused by Washington's decision to hit the country with massive import tariffs. US-Turkey tensions continue to escalate over Ankara's detention of an American pastor and its plans to acquire Russian air defense systems.
Videos posted online show Turks setting US banknotes on fire, sneezing into them and tearing them apart.
In this video, a man is seen burning a one hundred dollar bill with a cigar lighter.
In another clip, several middle-aged men make a bonfire out of US dollar bills.
A Turkish official has joined the flash mob.
The local media reported that crowds of people came together, kissing Turkish lira banknotes and ripping US dollars apart.
These protests come after Donald Trump's decision to double import tariffs on Turkish steel and aluminum caused a currency crisis in Turkey, with the lira collapsing to an all-time low against the dollar. The move has sparked a backlash from Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who called on Turkish people to exchange dollars and gold for the lira.
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Relations between Washington and Ankara have been strained in recent years over Turkey's refusal to release American pastor Andrew Brunson, who was arrested in 2016 after a failed coup and accused of terrorism and espionage….
