Istanbul detains over 200 in Labour Day protests amid inflation woes
At least 205 people were detained during Wednesday's marches in Istanbul on 1 May, as reported by the Turkish Progressive Lawyers Association and quoted by the Duvar service. The demonstrations were a protest against the soaring inflation currently affecting Turkey.
The Duvar service had earlier reported the arrest of several dozen individuals gathered to participate in the Labour Day demonstrations at Taksim Square. According to information from the service, the police resorted to using tear gas against a group attempting to break through the barricades.
Labour Day demonstrations
Trade unions and the opposition organised a demonstration for Labour Day, aiming to march towards Taksim Square. The Istanbul Governor's Office announced that on 1 May, some roads and modes of transportation would be closed to traffic to prevent Labour Day celebrations at this central square. Police erected barricades on the roads leading to Taksim.
Istanbul's Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu of the opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) and the party’s leader Ozgur Ozel participated in the march towards Taksim Square. The opposition party leader spoke with the police, calling for the barricades removed, but the authorities declined. Two major trade unions stated they had dropped their plan to proceed to the square, while some opposition groups declared their determination to continue.
The Daily Sabah portal reported that the Ministry of Interior was notified about the detention of 58 individuals linked to the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), categorised as a terrorist organisation. They are suspected of attempting to exploit the Labour Day celebrations to disseminate PKK propaganda.
The portal stated that past peaceful Labour Day celebrations have been taken advantage of by far-left groups and PKK sympathisers, forcing the authorities to block the organisation of celebrations in certain areas, including Taksim Square. It recalled that a tragic event occurred on Labour Day in 1977 at Taksim, where an attack on the crowd resulted in 37 fatalities.
Closure of Taksim Square
Governor Davut Gul stated that demonstrations are permitted in 40 designated areas in Istanbul and that the authorities will not allow activities in other locations. On Wednesday, 42,000 police officers were to maintain public order on the streets.
Gul mentioned that the authorities had not received applications for legitimate demonstrations in the designated areas. Instead, he said there are calls for illegal demonstrations tomorrow.
The opposition calls for access to the historical square, citing the Constitutional Court's decision stating that closing Taksim Square during Labour Day celebrations infringes on the right to assembly and demonstration, considering the "symbolic significance" of the place for workers and its "collective memory."
Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya, however, declared that the government would not permit terrorist organizations to transform 1 May into a platform for action and propaganda.
