Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia – Turkish police on Wednesday (1/5/2024) detained dozens of protesters who tried to tear down barricades in various districts of Istanbul after authorities banned demonstrations in the city's main Taksim Square.
Tens of thousands of police were deployed across Istanbul, even blocking small streets with metal barriers in an effort to prevent groups of protesters from gathering.
Authorities have banned demonstrations in Taksim Square since demonstrations against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's government in 2013.
In the Besiktas district, police detained at least 30 left-wing protesters who shouted “Taksim cannot be banned”.
Reported AFP, one protester was dragged to the ground by police and his group was detained. Meanwhile, 30 other people were detained in Sisli district.
Main roads in Istanbul were closed to traffic while public transport including ferries and subways was stopped.
Turkey's main opposition party, the CHP, and trade unions have been pressing the government to open the floor to labor demonstrations, but Erdogan on Tuesday warned against any provocations.
CHP leader Ozgur Ozel, accompanied by Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu and trade unionists, gathered in the Sarachane neighborhood where the city hall is located.
“We will continue to fight until Taksim is free,” said Ozel.
In 2023, Türkiye's Constitutional Court ruled that closing Taksim Square for protests was a violation of human rights.
[Gambas:Video CNBC]
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