May Day: Union Members Released from Detention in İstanbul

Photo: DİSK

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Union members who were detained because of attempting to march to Taksim Square have been released after giving statements at a public prosecutor's office, İstanbul Governor's Office has announced.

The governor's office further stated that it accepted all nine applications to leave wreaths at the Republic Monument on the square and Kazancı Street, where dozens of people were killed on May 1, 1077. Various workers' organizations held commemoration events yesterday (April 30), it said.

However, it added, members of the Confederation of Progressive Trade Unions of Turkey (DİSK) wanted to March to the square en masse despite a three-day curfew started today.

"It is explained to those who made a request that there is a curfew as part of the Covid-19 outbreak, that the desired march is not in compliance with the rules regarding the protection of social distance, that they can go to the square with their private vehicles as other unions did, and that they can also use the provided vehicle if needed.

"Despite all these, the group, who did not accept the legal warnings and insisted on walking to Taksim Square and who resisted the police officers, were detained upon an order by the Public Prosecutor's Office. The detainees were released by the Public Prosecutor's Office after their statements were taken."

Meanwhile, a wreath that was brought by the DİSK members but broken during the police intervention was left to Taksim square by MPs. (RT/VK)