4 Detentions at Taksim Square, İstiklal Street

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Police detained some of the people walking towards the Taksim Square on May 1 Workers’ Day.

Two people, who are from the People Front and were carrying banners reading “Shoulder to shoulder against fascism, let’s head to Taksim on May 1”, were taken into custody.

Two people who wanted to reach the Taksim Square and stage a sit-in were detained this morning.

May 1 and Taksim

May 1 was celebrated in Turkey for the first time in 1906.

In 1977, fire was opened during May 1 celebrations at the Takim Square, killing 34 people. The event passed into history as "Bloody May ".

In 1979, May celebrations were banned in İstanbul and curfew was declared.

In 1989, a group of 2,000 people attempting to march towards Taksim on İstikal Street were dispersed by the police. A young man named Mehmet Akif Dalcı was shot to death during the incidents.

In 2009, over 5,000 people celebrated May 1 at the Taksim Square. Even though the governorship declared that no pepper gas would be used, police intervened in the demonstrators with pepper gas.

In 2010, the Taksim Square was opened to "demonstrations" after 32 years.

In 2013, the police attacked the groups that wanted to go to the Taksim Square. The celebrations were held following a police intervention that lasted seven hours. The police attacked that celebrations as well.

In 2014 and 2015, the Taksim Square was closed to May 1 celebrations. The groups rallying in Beşiktaş and Şişli confronted police attack. (AS/TK)