What Happened?

May Day, 2024

It was determined by the organizing committee that the celebrations of May Day after a long absence would be held in Taksim Square. The Constitutional Court had ruled that “Every person who sees themselves as part of that culture has the right to be in Taksim Square on May Day to directly experience its significance and pass on their experiences for generations,” but as the date drew near, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya declared that celebrations in Taksim would not be permitted under any circumstances. On May 1, a de facto state of emergency was proclaimed in Istanbul in collaboration with the Ministry of Interior and the Istanbul Governorship. All highways leading to Taksim were closed, and the majority of public transportation was suspended. The announcement was made by the organizing committee, youth organizations, democratic mass organizations, and opposition parties that they would meet in Saraçhane Square and march to Taksim. Police barriers barred the area’s access roads in the morning. Barricades were erected in front of the Bozdoğan Arch, producing the famous images that came to represent May Day 2024.

In an attempt to exercise their constitutional rights to celebrate May Day in Taksim, stage protests and marches without authorization, and exercise their freedom of speech, unions, socialist organizations, and youth, women, and LGBTI+ groups assembled in Saraçhane on May 1. Plastic bullets and tear gas were used by the police to interfere. The strong gas harmed a large number of people, some of whom were hurt by plastic bullets that were fired close to their eyes, and some of whom fainted from the gas.

Many people from other groups (SGDF, Youth Committees, HKP, Partizan, Umut-Sen, ESP, etc.) who were trying to get to Taksim via different routes in the morning of the same day (May 1) were detained for demonstrating. Governor of Istanbul Davut Gül declared “proudly” that 210 persons were being held.

May 3

Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya shared multiple photos to bolster his announcement that 29 persons were arrested during raids at their residences early on May 3. Ongoing searches were also highlighted by Yerlikaya, who added that “the suspects were caught in the places they were hiding.” But the majority of the activists were removed from their houses by force. In the days that followed, inmates were tortured and doors to residences that had been invaded were torn down.

May 5

Twelve additional people, whose residences Ali Yerlikaya said were still being sought after, had their homes seized in the early hours of the morning.

May 6

49 persons were detained, at least 25 of whom were college students. The main justification given for the arrests was that the law prohibiting unapproved marches and protests had been broken. Five of the 49 had also been arrested months previously for taking part in pro-Palestine demonstrations.

May 10

A person whose judicial control order was revoked after they were taken into custody from their house on May 5 and then released was arrested. This increased the overall number of inmates to fifty.

Campus Solidarity Acts in Response to the Arrests

Protests against the jailed students and in favor of those who wished to celebrate May Day in Taksim started early on May 2 at the Çağlayan Courthouse. “Free Taksim” protests were organized in various locations, including Ankara and Eskişehir.

On university campuses, protests against the arrests were also organized as acts of solidarity. Support groups and youth organizations staged demonstrations in favor of the activists detained for attempting to march to Taksim and the students arrested for endorsing the Palestinian cause at campuses such as Boğaziçi University, Istanbul Technical University (ITU), Yıldız Technical University (YTU), Galatasaray University, and Midde East Technical University (METU). Furthermore, a social media campaign featuring support videos, hashtag campaigns, and posts from multiple colleges was started by students from other universities: Freedom for May Day, Taksim, and University students.

Yıldız Technical University (YTU)

Protesting in solidarity in front of the dining hall building, students at Yıldız Technical University hoisted banners that said, “Saying freedom for Palestine and May Day is not a crime.” In addition, students showed support for the 25 arrested students—two of whom are from Yıldız Technical University—by hanging banners in the festival area as the school’s spring celebration got underway.

Boğaziçi University

Students from Boğaziçi University demonstrated in support of the release of 25 students who are in custody, three of whom are from Boğaziçi University, in front of the North Pyramid. They carried banners that said, “Public squares cannot be closed to the people; the will of Taksim cannot be subdued.” Let the prisoners go.”

Galatasaray University

With a Palestine flag and a banner that said, “We will reclaim our friends and Taksim!” the Galatasaray University Solidarity Network organized a solidarity rally for the 25 jailed students, one of whom is from Galatasaray University.

Istanbul Technical University (ITU)

Carrying a banner that said, “We will reclaim our friends and Taksim!” ITU students staged a solidarity rally for the 25 jailed students, two of whom were classmates, at the Ayazağa campus. A news release was read at the Arı Gate to mark the end of the demonstration.

Middle East Technical University (METU)

With a banner that said, “Neither our May Day nor our Palestine resistance can be detained! we will reclaim Taksim and our friends!” METU students staged a solidarity demonstration in support of the imprisoned students.

Istanbul University

Students from Istanbul University came together to write a letter to the 25 students who are being held, five of whom are fellow students.

Marmara University

Students from Marmara University wrote “Universities Cannot Be Imprisoned, Freedom for Our Marmara Classmates” on whiteboards and put up sheets with the names of their friends who were arrested as a form of protest against the detention of their classmates.

During the opening speech of the 19^th International Labor Film Festival’s “Long Live Palestine” concert, the festival crew wished greetings to the imprisoned students who are part of the “A Thousand Youth for Palestine” movement. The student attendees during the concert held banners calling for their friends’ release.

University students are organizing solidarity actions and writing letters to their arrested peers, declaring they would not stop until their friends are free and that they will continue to raise their voices on campuses. We are participating in and endorsing these acts of solidarity as well. Presenting to you, on behalf of fourteen human rights organizations, is our appeal for solidarity with the detainees. We demand that the 50 individuals—25 of them are university students—who were jailed for expressing their constitutional rights to free speech be released right away.