This Image Of Reporters Wearing Gas Masks Isn't Actually From This Week's Protests

The photo, which has been retweeted more than 800 times, appears to have been taken on May 1.

BuzzFeed Staff

Posted on June 2, 2013, 10:22 pm

Trita Parsi
@tparsi
Bizarre reality. Turkish journalists wearing gas masks as they write their stories on their laptops. #Taksim #Turkey

This photo of Turkish reporters filing stories while wearing gas masks was tweeted by Trita Parsi, a scholar and activist who leads the National Iranian American Council, Sunday. It has been retweeted more than 800 times and has also been posted to Reddit. It is not, however, from this week's anti-government protests in Turkey. Parsi said he originally saw the photo on Facebook.

BurÃ§in Artut
@Bwitchbrooke
@tparsi @serhatucak that photo was taken on 1 may 2013.. this photo is not related with taksim gezi parki!

Trita Parsi
@tparsi
@Bwitchbrooke never said it was...

The photo was shared as early as May 1, 2013 by a Twitter user in Turkey. Protestors clashed with riot police that day when demonstrations for workers' rights escalated and protestors attempted to get to Taksim Square, according to CNN. Riot police responded with gas and water cannons.

KÄ±vanÃ§ Ã–zcan
@kivanc_metu
#AKP style #Democracy in #Turkey - #MayDay @BBCWorld @Reuters @nytimes @washingtonpost @CrisisGroup @cnnbrk

Hunter Schwarz
BuzzFeed Staff