İstanbul celebrated a severely restricted International Workers’ Day yesterday (May 1), as a series of restrictions from Turkey’s central government made demonstrations nearly impossible. Tensions were high as Turkey’s main opposition leaders called for demonstrations and marches in spite of the bans. Demonstrations resulted in over 200 arrests and clashes between demonstrators and security forces.
March from Saraçhane
Protestors congregated Wednesday morning at Saraçhane in the Fatih district, the seat of İstanbul’s opposition-controlled municipal government.
Led by CHP chairman Özgür Özel and İstanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, Turkey’s main opposition party had called for a march starting from Saraçhane and leading to Taksim Square along an approximately 4.5 kilometer route.
Gathering outside the city hall around 10:00 Wednesday morning, Özel and İmamoğlu made remarks to the large group of demonstrators before setting off. Saying that the group’s destination was Taksim, Özel referenced the central government-appointed governor’s ban on demonstrations at the square:
“Our destination is Taksim Square. “If the district governor, governor, and police chief of the state stand against the nation, and if the nation and the state come face to face, the nation will win.”
Referencing his reelection just one month ago, which was celebrated at Saraçhane, İmamoğlu addressed the group saying:
“For the last five years, Saraçhane has become a focal point for seeking justice. Over the past five years, Saraçhane has abided by the will of the public. The end result of this will be a big meeting in Taksim, both today and in the years to come.”
DİSK cancels march after security forces block passage
Various labor unions, party members, and NGOs joined hundreds of demonstrators led by the CHP head and İstanbul mayor.
The group, however, was met by rows of heavily armed riot police preventing passage through the historic Bozdoğan Aqueduct, located only 100 meters from Saraçhane.
Arzu Çerkezoğlu, president of Confederation of Revolutionary Trade Unions of Turkey (DİSK), attempted to negotiate with security forces blocking the passage through the historic aqueduct.
Attempts by Çerkezoğlu to negotiate with security forces, however, were unsuccessful, leading to DİSK’s decision to cancel their planned march to Taksim Square.
Despite DİSK’s decision not to proceed, numerous demonstrators belonging to such groups as the Social Freedom Party, the Halkevleri NGO, Socialist Workers Party, Confederation of Public Employees’ Unions (KESK), and the Labourist Movement Party continued to struggle against security forces, during which pepper spray was deployed and several injuries were reported.
Demonstrators chanted “Open the barricade!” as police refused to budge.
Clashes at the Bozdoğan Aqueduct circulated on social media throughout the day Wednesday.
The İstanbul Governorship reported that 226 individuals were arrested Wednesday in connection with May 1st demonstrations.
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Reactions focus on constitutionality of Taksim ban
Much of the controversy regarding the ban on May 1st demonstrations at Taksim Square has centered around a ruling from the Turkish Constitutional Court from December 2023. In the ruling, judges argued that the closure of Taksim to May 1st celebrations represented a violation of rights, emphasizing the ‘symbolic significance’ of the square and its connection to International Workers’ Day.
Despite this ruling, Turkey’s Justice and Development Party (AKP)-controlled Interior Ministry held fast in its decision to ban demonstrations at Taksim. In the days leading up to May 1st, the square as well as the adjacent Gezi Park were lined with police fencing to deter congregation of protestors.
The government’s refusal to comply with this ruling from the constitutional court comes as the AKP pushes to redraft Turkey’s constitution. Opposition leaders have argued that rewriting the constitution is futile as long as the ruling government fails to comply with constitutional court rulings. In an example from earlier this year, imprisoned representative-elect Can Atalay was stripped of parliamentary status despite a constitutional court ruling calling for his release.
Kaftancıoğlu criticizes Özel’s approach
Following the events at Saraçhane, some criticized the CHP’s approach to the march.
In a social media post on Wednesday, former CHP İstanbul district head Canan Kaftancıoğlu criticized CHP Chairman Özgür Özel’s decision to proceed with the march to Taksim despite the enormous police presence, saying:
“In my view, it would have been better to avoid the escalation and announce to our unions and parties that we are celebrating May 1st Saraçhane, instead of starting a march that we were unable to finish.”
Road, transportation closures
On Tuesday, the central government-controlled İstanbul governorship had announced a long list of road closures and significant restrictions on public transportation. Cancellation of the M2 metro line leading to Taksim Square as well as the cancellation of all ferry services bringing passengers from the Anatolian to the European side of the city were part of a long list of restrictions aimed at inhibiting access to Taksim.
Taksim Square, located in the heart of İstanbul’s European side, has traditionally been used as the location for May 1st celebrations dating back decades. The past 10 years, however, have seen significant restrictions on this practice.
Although the İstanbul municipality has been controlled by the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) since 2019, security matters in the metropolis fall under the jurisdiction of the Ankara-based Interior Ministry.
Restrictions on public transportation were lifted at 16:00 on Wednesday afternoon.
