Protests and Clashes in Istanbul on May Day
Overview
In Istanbul, police resorted to tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse protesters attempting to breach a barricade and reach Taksim Square on May Day, despite a ban on rallies.
Police Action and Arrests
Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya reported that 210 people were arrested during the incident.
Heavy Police Deployment
Over 40,000 police officers were deployed in the city, blocking even small streets with metal barriers following President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s statement that May Day protests would not be allowed in the square.
History of Bans
Since 2013, authorities have banned rallies in Taksim Square, a historic site of protests in Istanbul.
Clashes and Resistance
Demonstrators clashed with police near city hall in the Sarachane district, with tear gas and rubber bullets used to prevent breaches of barricades.
Protesters’ Perspective
Arzu Cerkezoglu, secretary general of the Confederation of Revolutionary Trade Unions of Turkey (DISK), expressed the protesters’ determination to celebrate May Day at Taksim Square, citing legal grounds and the square’s symbolic importance.
Legal Context
In 2023, Turkey’s top constitutional court ruled that the closure of Taksim Square for protests violated citizens’ rights. The square, historically linked to May Day celebrations, had been reopened in 2010 but closed again after the 2013 protests.
