Police try to detain opposition deputy Şafak Pavey as she helps a young protester

ISTANBUL

Şafak Pavey, who has a prosthetic leg, was trying to convince plainclothes officers not to detain a young demonstrator. Hürriyet Photo

Main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) deputy Şafak Pavey, who has a prosthetic arm and a prosthetic leg, was close to being detained by the police during May Day rallies in Istanbul’s Beşiktaş district, as she was trying to help a young protester.

Accompanied by her mother, Pavey tried to convince plainclothes officers not to detain a young demonstrator who was part of the group trying to depart from Beşiktaş to reach Taksim Square, which was banned for May Day rallies by the authorities.

However, police refused and threatened to detain her, along with the young protester, despite Pavey showing them her deputy identification card, which grants immunity from prosecution.

The officers eventually desisted after Pavey’s mother, Ayşe Önal, intervened by hugging her daughter.