Turkish police arrest nearly 400 in Istanbul May Day crackdown; Workers' Party leader Erkan Bas pepper-sprayed
Turkish police arrested nearly 400 people in Istanbul on May 1 during May Day demonstrations, according to figures from the CHD Lawyers Association cited by AFP, with riot-control vehicles firing tear gas into crowds in the Mecidiyekoey and Besiktas districts. Turkish Workers' Party president Erkan Bas was filmed engulfed in pepper spray; union official Basaran Aksu was arrested moments after denouncing the police lockdown of Taksim Square. Earlier in the week Turkish authorities had issued arrest warrants against 62 people, of whom 46 -- including journalists, trade unionists and opposition figures -- were assessed as "likely to carry out attacks". In Ankara, about 100 coal miners completing a nine-day hunger strike over wage arrears joined the May Day march under heavy police presence. The day's demonstrations were called under the slogan "Bread. Peace. Freedom." Inflation in Turkey is officially measured at 30 percent but is estimated at closer to 40 percent by independent analysts. Last year's May Day protests, which moved to the Kadikoey area after the same Taksim lockdown, also ended with more than 400 arrests.
Nearly 400 people were arrested in Istanbul on May 1 during May Day demonstrations, according to figures from the CHD Lawyers Association cited by AFP. Police fired tear gas into crowds from riot-control vehicles, with particularly heavy deployments in the Mecidiyekoey and Besiktas districts. Footage on the opposition channel HALK TV showed Turkish Workers' Party president Erkan Bas engulfed in pepper spray; "Those in power already speak 365 days a year," he said, "so let workers talk about the hardships they face at least one day a year." Union official Basaran Aksu was arrested moments after publicly denouncing the police lockdown of Taksim Square: "You can't close off a square to the workers of Turkey. Everyone uses Taksim, for official ceremonies, for celebrations. Only the labourers, the workers, the poor find the square closed to them."
Two protest groups were specifically targeted on Istanbul's European side after signalling their intention to march to Taksim Square -- the historic site of anti-government protests, which was sealed off overnight by police. In Mecidiyekoey, riot police used tear gas on a crowd that included members of the Marxist-Leninist People's Liberation Party (HKP) chanting "USA murderer, AKP accomplice". In Besiktas, eyewitnesses reported officers throwing several protesters to the ground, intervening violently whenever chants were taken up by the demonstrators.
Earlier in the week, Turkish authorities had issued arrest and search warrants against 62 people, of whom 46 -- including journalists, trade unionists and opposition figures -- were assessed as "likely to carry out attacks". The May 1 rallies were called under the slogan "Bread. Peace. Freedom." Inflation in Turkey is officially measured at 30 percent but is estimated at closer to 40 percent by independent analysts.
In Ankara, the May Day march was notably large and youthful, monitored by a significant police presence. About 100 coal miners completing a nine-day hunger strike over wage arrears were cheered as they joined the march -- the day's most concrete labour-grievance signal. The pattern echoes 2025, when more than 400 people were arrested at similar protests after demonstrations moved to the Kadikoey area following the same Taksim lockdown.