Istanbul police detained nearly 400 individuals during May Day demonstrations, marking a significant act of defiance following the arrest of Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu. The governor’s office reported that 384 people were detained for unauthorized demonstrations as they approached Taksim Square, amidst extensive restrictions including limited transit options and a heavy police presence of over 52,000 officers. While protests occurred across the country largely without police intervention, Imamoglu’s arrest on corruption charges has drawn criticism as a politically motivated move against a prominent rival of President Erdogan.
