Turkish Police Detain Hundreds At Lockdown May Day Marches

Turkish police has detained 212 demonstrators after scuffles broke out at May Day marches on Saturday, according to the Istanbul governor’s office.

Some video footage showed video and images showed Riot police and plainclothes officers jostling with union leaders and other demonstrators, throwing some to the ground before detaining dozens of them near Istanbul’s Taksim Square.

The governor’s office said some labour unions were allowed to hold memorials to mark the annual holiday, while others who had “gathered illegally” in violation of the lockdown.

According to the State-owned Anadolu Agency said 20 protestors were also detained in the western city of Izmir.

Local media reported efforts by police in Istanbul and Ankara to block reporters from filming the May Day demonstrations and detentions, with officers citing a new police circular.

Turkey this week adopted a 17-day partial lockdown, including stay-home orders and the closure of schools and some businesses, to curb a wave of coronavirus infections.

On Friday, Turkish media reported that officers were instructed to prevent people from filming or recording security forces on smartphones while they are on duty, a move critics called unlawful and a threat to citizens’ rights.

Turkish police have not commented on the reports.