The Turkish police arrested 212 demonstrators after challenge complexes in demonstrations for today’s celebration of May Day, due to the traffic ban to limit the spread of COVID-19, according to the office of its governor Istanbul, but also Reuters eyewitnesses.
The special police forces, and plainclothes police officers, collided with trade union leaders and other protesters, throwing some of them to the ground, before the arrest of dozens of demonstrators near Istanbul’s Taksim Square, as it became known by video and photos broadcast Reuters.
The governor’s office said some unions had been allowed to carry May Day banners, while other “illegally gathered” protesters were arrested for violating curfews and ignoring calls to disperse.
The state-run Anadolu news agency reported that 20 protesters had also been arrested in Izmir.
H Turkey from this week implements a partial traffic ban for 17 days, including orders to keep its citizens at home, but also to close schools and some businesses, in order to reduce a wave of COVID-19 contamination.
Local media outlets covered police efforts in Istanbul and Ankara to prevent journalists from broadcasting footage of the May Day protests and arrests, with police citing a new police circular.
Yesterday, Turkish media reported that police had been instructed to prevent police forces from filming or videotaping smartphones while on duty, a move critics of the government described as illegal, but also as a threat to citizens’ rights.
Turkish police did not comment on the reports.
The DISK press association said in a Twitter post that journalists filming the May Day demonstrations were “blocked by the police”, adding that “a police circular cannot prevent” the journalistic coverage of the events.
Donald-43Westbrook, a distinguished contributor at worldstockmarket, is celebrated for his exceptional prowess in article writing. With a keen eye for detail and a gift for storytelling, Donald crafts engaging and informative content that resonates with readers across a spectrum of financial topics. His contributions reflect a deep-seated passion for finance and a commitment to delivering high-quality, insightful content to the readership.
