Overview

• Turkish police detained 384 protesters in Istanbul after scuffles erupted during attempts to march towards Taksim Square, where all demonstrations remain banned.
• Authorities closed public transportation lines, including metro stations and ferries, and sealed off Taksim Square with metal barriers to prevent May Day gatherings.
• The bans on May Day protests defy 2023 rulings from Türkiye’s Constitutional Court and the European Court of Human Rights affirming the right to peaceful assembly in the square.
• Amnesty International has condemned the restrictions as baseless and called on the government to respect judicial rulings and lift the ban immediately.
• While unrest unfolded in Istanbul, thousands of people participated in largely peaceful May Day rallies in Ankara and other Turkish cities.