Turkish President Recep Tayyıp Erdoğan said on Friday, May 1, that the perseverence to organize rallies in Taksim Square in Istanbul was wrong and intentional.
“Taksim Square is not a suitable area for large rallies and rallying in Taksim Square would paralyze Istanbul's transportation,” President Erdoğan said during his speech to worker and labor groups from various sectors at the presidential palace in Ankara.
Erdoğan said they would not allow anyone to violate the rights of Istanbulites, and mentioned that there were many public squares in Istanbul, including the Yenikapı public square, for public rally.
The Istanbul Governorate announced on Thursday that Taksim Square would be closed for a mass rally and only a limited number of people would be allowed entrance only for commemoration of those who were killed there in 1977 during a May Day celebration.
Some worker unions and groups insisted on celebrating Labor Day in Taksim Square, and members of various worker groups moved towards the square early Friday, where they clashed with Turkish police who stopped them.
During his speech, Erdoğan touched upon the 'parallel state' issue and claimed that the structure was running upon new plans in cooperation with the separatist group. He blamed the parallel structure and the separatist group for trying to intercept Turkey. “They are trying to prevent our nation from achieving Turkey's 2013 targets,” Erdoğan added.
