Armored May Day in Istanbul, 160 arrests. Erdogan denies Taksim Square: “Terrorists want to turn the party into propaganda”

Yet another May Day of clashes and protests in Istanbul, where the police intervened with tear gas against some demonstrators who attempted to force a barrier formed by the officers to prevent the demonstrators from marching towards the central Taksim square, forbidden for the May Day celebrations workers Day. Various media reported it […]

Yet another May Day of clashes and protests in Istanbulwhere the police intervened with tear gas against some demonstrators who attempted to force a barrier formed by officers to prevent demonstrators from marching towards the station Taksim Square, prohibited for Labor Day celebrations. Various Turkish media reported this, publishing video where activists are seen clashing with officers. After the tensions, the main ones trade union groups they decided not to march to Taksim Square. Over 160 people were stopped by the police after trying to reach the central square despite the prohibitions.

The center of the city, and also other neighborhoods, are today completely cordoned off by the police, who allow passers-by to walk, while most of the shops are closed, cars do not pass, public transport does not stop in the areas central Istanbul and there are many armored police vehicles on the streets. According to reports from Turkish media and trade unions, those arrested were taken to the barracks for checks while around 42 thousand officers were deployed on the streets. The general secretary of the main opposition party CHP, Ozgur OzelAnd Ekrem Imamogluthe mayor of Istanbul recently re-elected with the same party, contested the decision to close Taksim Square to the celebrations and gathered together with the demonstrators at the municipality headquarters, in the Sarachane district, but the police did not allow them to march towards areas prohibited for demonstrations.

Yesterday, the Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan had challenged the opposition parties for having asked to be able to celebrate Labor Day in Taksim Square, stating that “terrorist organizations want to transform May Day into a propaganda tool with their appeals” and that “it is clear that insisting on holding a gathering in an area other than those permitted does not show good intentions”. The government has long declared the central square prohibited for rallies and demonstrations security reasons. But in the Turkish capital May Day has for years been a day of protests to which Erdogan has always responded with a massive use of force. Even last year, the closure of some areas such as the square triggered clashes and arrests.