Journalists who wanted to photograph and take images of the protestors were also detained and beaten.   

DİSK Basın-İş, a trade union for journalists, reported that journalist Zeynep Kuray was detained, while Sultan Eylem Keleş, Gencer Keten, and Hazar Dost were subjected to police violence.

In 2010, the Istanbul Governor’s Office allowed the May 1 rally to take place at Taksim Square, for the first time in 32 years. However, the rally was banned in 2013 on the grounds of pedestrianization project.

Since then, the Istanbul Governor’s Office has been designating other areas such as squares at Bakırköy, Yenikapı and Maltepe for the May 1st celebrations, despite the objections of unions. This year, the governor’s office authorized Maltepe Square for the celebrations.