Turkish couples kiss in subway to protest morality announcement

A young Turkish couple kiss to protest against subway official's harassment of a couple for kissing in public last week, at a subway stop in Ankara, Turkey, Saturday, May 25, 2013. Last week, Ankara subway officials made a reproaching announcement asking passengers "to act in accordance with moral rules," after spotting the couple kissing through security cameras.(AP Photo/Burhan Ozbilici) (The Associated Press)

A young Turkish couple kiss to protest against subway official's harassment of a couple for kissing in public last week, inside a subway stop in Ankara, Turkey, Saturday, May 25, 2013. Last week, Ankara subway officials made a reproaching announcement asking passengers "to act in accordance with moral rules," after spotting the couple kissing through security cameras.(AP Photo/Burhan Ozbilici) (The Associated Press)

Riot police stand at the entrance in anticipation of young Turkish couples expected to kiss in protest against subway official's harassment of a couple for kissing in public last week, at a subway stop in Ankara, Turkey, Saturday, May 25, 2013. Last week, Ankara subway officials made a reproaching announcement asking passengers "to act in accordance with moral rules," after spotting the couple kissing through security cameras.(AP Photo/Burhan Ozbilici) (The Associated Press)

Dozens of couples have locked lips at a subway stop in Turkey's capital, Ankara, to protest subway authorities' admonishment of a couple that kissed in public.

Turkish media say that, earlier in the week, Ankara subway officials made an announcement asking passengers "to act in accordance with moral rules" after security cameras spotted the couple kissing.

The issue prompted an opposition lawmaker to question the Islamist-rooted ruling party, which many secularists fear wants to expand the role of Islam in Turkey, about whether subway officials were authorized to make such demands.

Some 100 people in the station kissed for several minutes in protest Saturday. Demonstrators carried signs reading "Free Kisses" and chanted slogans.

A pro-Islamist group of some 20 people staged a counter-protest. Police set up barricades between the groups.