Turkish police arrested more than 400 people in Istanbul on May 1, 2025, during violent clashes with May Day protesters demanding better wages and working conditions. The confrontations erupted as thousands attempted to march toward Taksim Square, a symbolic protest site banned by authorities since 2013 due to security concerns.
Officers used tear gas, rubber bullets, and water cannons to disperse crowds, injuring at least 30 protesters and 15 police, with 10 hospitalizations reported. The crackdown, one of the largest in recent years, targeted union members, students, and leftist groups, with 412 detainees facing charges of public disorder and resisting arrest.
The protests, organized by the Confederation of Progressive Trade Unions and other labor groups, saw 40,000 participants across Istanbul, chanting against inflation rates exceeding 70% and stagnant wages averaging $500 monthly. Taksim Square, closed to rallies after a 1977 massacre killing 34, remains a flashpoint, with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan citing public safety to justify the ban. Smaller, authorized demonstrations occurred in Sisli and Maltepe, but heavy barricades and 42,000 police deployments blocked access to central areas. Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya stated that 210 arrests followed attacks on officers, while the Istanbul Governor’s Office reported no fatalities.
Turkey’s economic crisis, with a 50% lira devaluation since 2023, fueled protester demands for a 150% minimum wage hike and pension reforms. The government, however, offered a 30% wage increase, citing fiscal constraints. Human rights groups criticized the excessive force, noting Turkey’s history of restricting public dissent, with 1,500 protest-related arrests in 2024.
The clashes highlight deepening tensions as 60% of Turks live below the poverty line, and the ruling party faces declining support ahead of 2028 elections. Authorities released 200 detainees by evening, but 212 remain in custody pending court hearings, signaling ongoing unrest in Turkey’s largest city.