Authorities in Istanbul resorted to tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse demonstrators attempting to breach barricades and reach Taksim Square in defiance of a ban on May Day rallies.
Following the clashes, Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya confirmed the arrest of 210 individuals.
A massive police presence of over 40,000 officers was deployed throughout the city, blocking off various streets with metal barriers in response to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s prohibition of the annual protests in the square.
Taksim Square, a historic focal point for protests in Istanbul, was surrounded by tall metal barriers, symbolizing the ongoing ban on rallies since 2013.
During the confrontation, police clashed with protesters near city hall in the Sarachane district, using tear gas and rubber bullets to maintain control.
Arzu Cerkezoglu, the secretary general of the Confederation of Revolutionary Trade Unions of Turkey (DISK), emphasized the significance of Taksim Square as a symbol of May Day and labor rights.
In a significant ruling in 2023, Turkey’s top constitutional court declared the closure of Taksim Square for protests as a violation of citizens’ rights, highlighting the historical importance of the square for May Day celebrations.
A labour union member holds flowers in front of the Victory Monument, which has been closed to those who want to celebrate May Day at Taksim Square in Istanbul [file: Umit Bektas/Reuters]
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