Why Taksim Square closes on May 1 in Istanbul - The story of 1977
- Martin
- Apr 28
- 2 min read
On May 1, 1977, hundreds of thousands gathered at Taksim Square, Istanbul’s central square in the heart of Beyoğlu. International Workers’ Day had become a major event in the city, and the square was packed.
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Then it broke.
Late in the afternoon, shots were fired from buildings surrounding the square. Panic spread within seconds. People tried to get away, but a narrow passage in the area turned into a trap. People fell, were crushed, trampled.
At the same time, police moved in on the crowd with tear gas and water cannons.
Officially, 34 people were killed.
Who was behind the shooting has never been definitively established. In the years that followed, many pointed to far-right groups linked to anti-communist networks during the Cold War, where US support for such structures in Turkey is often mentioned. At the same time, it has remained central to the debate that the police did not just fail to protect the demonstrators, but moved against them in the middle of the panic. That has fueled suspicions that parts of the state apparatus played an active role, or at least allowed it to happen. No legal accountability was ever established.
The political violence of the 1970s pushed Turkey toward a breaking point and became part of the background to the military coup in 1980.
In the late 2000s, May 1 was once again allowed at Taksim Square. Since the Gezi Park protests, the square has been closed again. The current government has repeatedly maintained that Taksim is not a place for political demonstrations.
When Taksim Square is sealed off ahead of May 1 today, authorities point to 1977 and insist that Taksim is not for political protest. Critics argue that this combination is used to control and in practice prevent political gatherings in one of the country’s most symbolic public spaces. 1977 is not just history. It is part of the argument.
In today’s Turkey, May 1 is an official public holiday. Yet Taksim Square is sealed off.
In the days leading up to and following May 1, organisations still attempt to take to the streets to claim the right to protest. Authorities respond with a heavy deployment of riot police, and the area around Taksim quickly becomes unpredictable. The metro does not stop at Taksim on the M2 line, and the F1 funicular does not run.
If you notice signs of a demonstration, anywhere in Istanbul, it is best to leave the area immediately.
