Turkish police arrested more than 500 people and fired tear gas at May Day demonstrations in Istanbul, according to the CHD lawyers’ group — many of those detained were attempting to march to Taksim Square, a site of past anti-government protests. The square has been banned for demonstrations since 2013 and was sealed off by police overnight; Similar large-scale security measures were reported in other cities, including Ankara, Izmir, and Diyarbakır.

Security Measures and Protests Across Turkey

Extensive security measures were in place at entrances to public squares in Istanbul and other cities from early Friday morning; In Istanbul’s Mecidiyekoy district, large numbers of police in riot gear used tear gas and water cannons to disperse crowds. The president of the Turkish Workers’ Party, Erkan Bas, was among those who breached a police barricade and were dispersed; Bas called the closure of Taksim Square “illegal” and demanded it be opened.

In Ankara. Several groups gathered in Tandogan Square, while permitted demonstrations were held in Kadikoy and Kartal; In Izmir, May Day celebrations occurred at Gundogdu Square, and in Diyarbakır, at Istasyon Square. A group of around 100 coal miners who had been on a nine-day hunger strike to demand unpaid wages joined the May Day march in Ankara, drawing cheers from onlookers.

Context and Background

May Day, celebrated internationally on 1 May, sees significant police deployments in Turkey each year — In 2023, over 400 people were arrested during similar demonstrations in Kadikoy. This year’s arrests were reported to be approaching that number, with the CHD lawyers’ group noting 370 detentions by 1100 GMT; Police encircled the Besiktas neighborhood and intervened when protesters raised specific chants, with AFP witnessing several demonstrators being thrown to the ground.

Unions and civil society groups held the May Day demonstrations under the slogan “Bread. Peace. Freedom.” The economic context is challenging, with Turkey’s official inflation rate at 30 percent, though independent estimates suggest it is closer to 40 percent. The ruling AKP party faced criticism for being an “accomplice” in the context of economic hardship, with some protesters chanting “USA murderer, AKP accomplice” as they attempted to push through police lines.

International and Domestic Reactions

The closure of Taksim Square drew strong criticism from protesters, who argued it was unjust to deny access to a space used for official ceremonies and celebrations. One protester told the AFP, “You can’t close off a square to the workers of Turkey. Everyone uses Taksim, for official ceremonies, for celebrations. Only the labourers, the workers, the poor find the square closed to them.”

Trade unions reported large turnouts in cities such as Bursa and Corum, with reports of crowds attempting to gather in Istanbul’s Mecidiyekoy district being surrounded and dispersed by police. The CHD lawyers’ group remained at the rallies and reported ongoing arrests throughout the day. Despite the police presence and restrictions, May Day events proceeded in some areas where permits had been granted.