Turkish police arrested Friday, May 1, several union officials who marched in Istanbul to mark Labor Day despite a travel ban aimed at fighting the pandemic of new coronavirus.

About fifteen people, including the leader of the powerful DISK trade union confederation, Arzu Cerkezoglu, were arrested by the police, noted an AFP photographer.

They were part of a group of around 50 demonstrators, including opposition MPs, who were marching towards the iconic Taksim Square to celebrate May Day.

>> Read also: "Turkey: more than 400 people arrested for 'online provocation'"

Social distancing not respected

Because of a new coronavirus pandemic, the demonstrators paraded with a mask on their face, but without respecting the rules of social distancing.

Turkish authorities have taken a total containment measure of three days from Friday in the 30 most populous provinces of Turkey, including Istanbul, in order to limit the risk of spread of the new coronavirus.

Turkey has registered more than 120,000 cases and 3,100 pandemic-related deaths.

With AFP

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