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May Day repression in Turkey and Iran
9 May 2008
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| Taksim Square, Istanbul: the scene of violence against labour activists in 1977 [photo: Bertil Videt, GFDL] | |
Trade unionists in Turkey and Iran were met head on with violence and repression as they attempted to participate in this year’s May Day celebrations.
Turkish trade unionists participating in a May Day march in Istanbul were confronted with tear gas and rubber bullets and suffered beatings at the hands of the authorities. The clashes occurred when thousands of police and security forces tried to prevent a May Day march, organised by the Confederation of Progressive Trade Unions of Turkey, the Confederation of Turkish Trade Unions, and the Confederation of Public Employees’ Trade Unions, from reaching Taksim Square. In 1977, 37 workers, who were holding a demonstration in the square, were shot dead by an unidentified gunman. The unions are seeking to prosecute the government for last week's attacks.
In Iran, several trade unionists were arrested during May Day activities. In Asaluyeh in the south of Iran, three workers were detained by police forces, who confiscated placards and broke up celebrations; two of them - Javanmir Moradi and Taha Azadi, members of the Free Union of Iranian Workers, were transferred on 6 May to an intelligence office in Bushehr. In Sanandaj seven participants in May Day events were arrested, but later released. A number of people were also arrested in Saqez for a short time.
Many other May Day celebrations in Iran were obstructed as a result of government harassment. In Tehran, police and security forces blocked Chitgar Park where participants planned to hold celebrations; in Sanandaj the governor of the city had refused to permit the activities and trade unionists were forced to conduct their event on the outskirts of the city. In the city of Kermanshah, activities had to be abandoned due to pressure from the authorities.
Several arrests also took place in the run-up to May Day.
The International Trade Union Confederation has written to both the Turkish and Iranian authorities condemning the repression.
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