Istanbul lockdown aims to prevent May Day marches
Istanbul authorities took drastic measures to prevent May Day demonstrations by closing metro trains, buses, and Bosphorus ferries, effectively paralyzing Turkey's largest city. In anticipation of the holiday, police arrested 100 individuals who were allegedly planning to protest in Taksim Square, a central area where demonstrations have been prohibited since 2013.
The government's actions come amid a tense standoff with the main opposition party, the Republican People’s Party (CHP), following the detention of its presidential candidate, Ekrem Imamoglu. Imamoglu, the mayor of Istanbul, is a significant political rival of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The unrest traces back to 2013 when protests erupted across Turkey, resulting in police crackdowns that left eight dead. Consequently, the government has banned gatherings in Taksim Square for various occasions, including May Day, International Women's Day, and Pride marches.
Starting Wednesday evening, authorities closed seven metro stations and several busy bus and streetcar stops. Access to Kadikoy, a neighborhood where trade unions planned a rally for May Day, was also restricted. Key locations, including the Palace of Justice and municipal government headquarters, were cordoned off. Reports indicate that police have been conducting raids since Monday to detain individuals promoting May Day rallies at Taksim, with Istanbul's chief prosecutor issuing arrest warrants for 108 people.
Human rights organization Amnesty International criticized the ban on demonstrations, calling it "spurious" and urging the Turkish government to lift the restrictions. Dinushika Dissanayake, an Amnesty specialist on Europe, emphasized that the limitations on May Day celebrations in Taksim Square are unfounded, demanding their urgent removal.
As part of the yearly crackdown, Taksim Square was sealed off with metal barriers, and thousands of police were expected to prevent any violations. On Wednesday, police detained 20 individuals, as reported by Turgut Delioglu, head of the DISK union's media section, who stated that the union would gather in Kadikoy on Thursday. Taksim Square had been fenced off since the arrest and imprisonment of Imamoglu, which triggered widespread anti-government protests, the largest since 2013. Istanbul Governor Davut Gul warned that anyone defying the ban on demonstrations in Taksim would face prosecution. Amnesty noted that this ban contradicts a 2023 ruling by Turkey's Constitutional Court affirming the right to assembly for unions during May Day celebrations.
