Turkey: Police clash with protesters in Istanbul May 1 /update 1

Event

Police blocked a group of protesters attempting to march to Taksim Square in Istanbul on Monday, May 1. Around 200 people were intercepted by police officers in the Gayrettepe district. Security forces fired rubber bullets and tear gas to disperse the crowd. Turkish state media reported that 13 people were detained while other media sources said as many as 70 individuals were arrested. According to the Istanbul Governor’s Office, 207 individuals have been detained throughout the city by police.

Context

Security measures were increased throughout the city in preparation for the annual demonstration. The government has banned protesters from gathering at Taksim Square since 2013, after it became the flashpoint for weeks of anti-government demonstrations.

A recent constitutional referendum has exacerbated the country's already-heightened sociopolitical tensions. Additionally, Turkey has suffered repeated bombings and other attacks since the establishment of Islamic State (IS) in neighboring Iraq and Syria as well as since the 2015 collapse of a long-term ceasefire between the government and the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which has waged a three-decade insurgency for Kurdish autonomy.

Advice

Individuals in Turkey are advised to avoid all demonstrations and rallies, follow any instructions issued by the local authorities, and carry proper identification at all times (e.g., passport).

Due to the prevailing threat of terrorism, report any suspicious objects or behavior to the authorities and maintain a high degree of vigilance, especially when visiting sites deemed particularly vulnerable to an attack (public transportation, train stations, ports, airports, public or government buildings, embassies or consulates, international organizations, schools and universities, religious sites, festivals, etc.). Some Western governments advise against travel to areas along the Syrian and Iraqi borders.