Istanbul- All roads leading to Taksim Square have been closed although the Turkish Constitutional Court (AYM) ruled that the closure of Taksim Square to workers on the International Workers’ Day violated the constitutional right to freedom of assembly.

Despite the ban of the Governor's Office in Istanbul, workers plan to gather at Saraçhane Park and march to Taksim Square today. Turkish police do not even allow people to park their cars on the streets leading to the square. The parked vehicles in the parking lots in Taksim, Şişhane, Kabataş, Mecidiyeköy, Şişli, Saraçhane, Beşiktaş Square and Dolmabahçe were removed. Police have blocked all roads leading to Istiklal Avenue and Taksim Square with barriers.

Public transport suspended

All garbage containers, stones and similar materials on the streets in Beşiktaş, Beyoğlu, Şişli, Fatih and Kadıköy were removed in the early hours. Public transport such as metro, metrobus, tram and bus services have been suspended since early this morning.

Workers begin to gather at the Saraçhane Park

The Confederation of Progressive Trade Unions of Turkey (DİSK), the Confederation of Public Workers' Unions (KESK), the Union of Chambers of Turkish Engineers and Architects (TMMOB), the Turkish Medical Association (TTB) and the Turkish Dental Association previously announced that May Day would be celebrated at Taksim Square. Despite the ban of the Governor’s Office in Istanbul and the police blockade, workers have begun to gather at the Saraçhane Park to march to Taksim Square.

The Peoples' Democracy and Equality Party (DEM Party), feminist organizations and ecologists marched from Yenikapı Marmaray station to Saraçhane Park. Then, they will march to Taksim square with workers.

 Workers taken into custody

According to the reports, workers have been beaten and taken into custody by police while trying to march to Taksim Square. The number of the workers taken into custody is still unknown.