The Istanbul Governorship has announced extensive measures for Labor and Solidarity Day on May 1, 2025, with a strong focus on public safety and order. Governor Davut Gül issued a stern warning, stating that calls to gather in Taksim Square are not celebratory but rather provocative attempts to incite conflict with security forces. In a statement shared on social media, Gül emphasized that permits have been granted for two confederations to hold events in Kadıköy and Kartal, adhering to legal regulations. However, gatherings and demonstrations have been banned in Beyoğlu, Beşiktaş, Şişli, and Fatih to ensure public security. “Our expectation from our dear citizens is clear: please do not heed unlawful calls that may disrupt public order,” Gül stated.
In preparation for the day, the governorship is taking proactive steps, including removing street obstacles such as trash bins and vendor stalls along key routes. Law enforcement teams will be deployed across the city to maintain public order and prevent any disruptions. Major traffic and transportation changes are also planned. Road closures will begin at 5 a.m. in areas including Fatih, Beyoğlu, and Kadıköy, with alternative routes provided to minimize disruption. Metro stations such as Yenikapı and Şişli will be temporarily closed, and several bus and ferry services will be limited or redirected. The Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality has urged residents to avoid private vehicles and rely on public transportation while planning ahead for delays.
Authorities are calling on citizens to respect the designated event areas and avoid unlawful gatherings to help ensure a peaceful and safe May 1 across the city. The backdrop to these measures is a growing tension surrounding the right to protest in Turkey, particularly in Taksim Square, which has been a focal point for demonstrations since the 2013 Gezi Park protests.
Amnesty International has recently called on Turkey to lift its ban on May Day demonstrations in Taksim Square, labeling the restrictions as "spurious" and lacking legitimate security grounds. On April 30, 2025, Amnesty's deputy regional director for Europe, Dinushika Dissanayake, stated, "The restrictions on May Day celebrations in Taksim Square are based on entirely spurious security and public order grounds and... must be urgently lifted." This call comes amidst reports of police detaining around 100 individuals allegedly planning to protest in the square.
Demonstrations have been banned in Taksim Square since the Gezi Park protests, which resulted in a brutal crackdown by police, claiming eight lives and injuring thousands. Since April 28, 2025, police have conducted a series of pre-emptive raids across the city, rounding up more than 100 people who called for May Day rallies at Taksim Square. The Istanbul chief public prosecutor issued a warrant for the detention of 108 individuals, heightening fears of a crackdown on dissent.
In a recent statement, Turgut Delioglu, chairman of the DISK labor union's media section, reported that police rounded up another 20 individuals on April 30, 2025. The DISK labor union plans to gather on May 1, 2025, in Kadıköy, where police are not expected to intervene. The situation escalated further following the arrest and jailing of Istanbul's opposition mayor, Ekrem Imamoglu, which sparked the largest wave of anti-government protests in Turkey since the Gezi protests.
Governor Davut Gül reiterated that anyone seeking to defy the ban on demonstrations at Taksim would face prosecution. In a statement on April 19, 2025, he warned, "For many years, no demonstrations have been allowed in Taksim Square and Istiklal Avenue due to security reasons... persistently calling for assembly in this area is a provocation." This sentiment echoes the government's long-standing stance on maintaining control over public gatherings, particularly in sensitive areas.
Amnesty International highlighted that the ban on demonstrations in Taksim Square contradicts a 2023 ruling by Turkey's Constitutional Court, which found that restricting May Day celebrations violated unions' rights to freedom of assembly. This ongoing tension between the government and civil society raises critical questions about the state of democracy and the right to protest in Turkey.
As the city prepares for Labor and Solidarity Day, Istanbul authorities have announced comprehensive traffic and transportation restrictions. These measures are part of heightened security protocols aimed at managing the flow of people and ensuring safety during the events. The Confederation of Revolutionary Trade Unions (DISK) will gather at Kadiköy Waterfront Square, while the Confederation of Turkish Trade Unions (TURK-IS) will assemble at Kartal Square.
Transportation restrictions will begin at 5:30 a.m. on May 1, 2025. Key metro stations, including Vezneciler, Halic, Taksim Square, Sishane, Osmanbey, Mecidiyeköy, Gayrettepe, and Zincirlikuyu, will be closed. The Kabatas-Taksim funicular line, the nostalgic Istiklal Street tram, and the Tunel-Karakoy funicular will suspend operations. Ferry services from the European side to the Asian side will be halted, except for services to Uskudar. Service to the Princes’ Islands will continue, but trips to Kadiköy will be suspended.
Multiple major roads in the districts of Fatih, Beyoğlu, Şişli, Beşiktaş, Kadıköy, and Kartal will be closed from 5:00 a.m. on May 1, 2025, including Taksim Square and its surroundings, Galata Bridge, and Unkapani Bridge. In response to potential incidents, the city has mobilized emergency services, with medical teams and ambulances positioned at strategic locations. Hospitals around Mecidiyeköy, Şişli, Taksim, Fatih, Kadıköy, and Kartal will maintain heightened readiness with additional medical personnel. The fire department will station vehicles and water tankers to respond to any emergencies.
Moreover, municipal cleaning crews will remove trash containers and potential projectiles from demonstration areas the night before. Parking areas in central districts will be emptied, and street vendors will be cleared from affected areas. Authorities have designated alternative routes for commuters, including the D-100 highway, Halic Bridge, Avrasya Tunnel, and various secondary roads throughout affected districts. Motorists are advised to use Fahrettin Kerim Gokay Avenue (Minibus Road) in Kadiköy, Barbaros Boulevard exit direction in Beşiktaş, and Buyukdere Avenue toward Sariyer from Şişli.
The city’s preparations reflect a broader struggle over the right to protest and the government's approach to public demonstrations. As Labor and Solidarity Day approaches, the situation remains tense, with many watching closely to see how authorities and citizens navigate this politically charged environment.
