Society News

Istanbul May Day: police tear gas and 576 detentions as Taksim Square stays sealed

Turkish police fired tear gas and detained hundreds of people in Istanbul on Friday, May 1, as unions and civic groups tried to mark May Day under the slogan “Bread. Peace. Freedom.” Police sealed off Taksim Square overnight, and the governor's office banned public events in Beyoğlu, Beşiktaş, Şişli and Fatih.

Turkish Minute, citing AFP, said the Progressive Lawyers Association (ÇHD) counted at least 370 detentions by 1100 GMT. Police fired tear gas from riot-control vehicles in Mecidiyeköy, union official Başaran Aksu was detained right after denouncing the lockdown, and Turkish Workers Party leader Erkan Baş was hit with pepper spray. Earlier in the week, warrants had been issued for 62 people.

“You can't close off a square to the workers of Turkey.” — Başaran Aksu, via Turkish Minute

bianet said more than 500 people were detained, nearly all of a few hundred who tried to break the Taksim blockade, while a large crowd gathered on the Asian side in Kadıköy. Metro stations and ferries between the two sides were closed. The New Arab reported on Saturday that all 576 detainees had been released, according to ÇHD, while the governor's office gave a figure of 575.

How each outlet framed it

• Turkish Minute — police force, the pre-emptive warrants and inflation estimated near 40%.
• bianet — the closed city and the Kadıköy rally, with DİSK's chair saying “this system is not our destiny.”
• The New Arab — the release of all detainees and the arrests made before the rallies.

Where the numbers differ: ÇHD's count rose from 370 at midday to 576 by the end; the governor's office said 575.