Police attacks 'May 1 cannot be banned' demo in Istanbul

Around 40 people were detained in Bakırköy, Istanbul during a gathering protesting against the government ban on May 1 events.

Police attacked workers who gathered in Bakırköy Freedom Square to protest the government ban on May 1 events in Istanbul. Several demonstrators were taken into custody.

The police blocked the square hours before the demonstration. Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) Deputy Musa Piroğlu, HDP Bakırköy district co-chair Yonca Yongöz, TÖP chair Perihan Koca, SODAP spokeswoman Sevtap Akdağ attended the demonstration.

Citing a ban by district governorship, police intervened the crowd set to make a press statement. The police attacked the workers who protested this arbitrary practice, battering and detaining several demonstrators. Members of the press were also forced out of the area.

Tamer Doğan, a lawyer who spoke to ANF, stated that approximately 40 people were detained in Bakırköy and taken to Bayrampaşa State Hospital. The detainees were handcuffed behind the back and tortured, which continued during the health control.