In a demonstration of growing opposition to LGBTQ+ rights, Turkish police detained at least 50 individuals following Istanbul’s annual Pride march. The government, led by President Tayyip Erdogan and his Islamist-rooted AK Party, has adopted a tougher stance on LGBTQ+ freedoms, with Erdogan accusing opposition parties of being “pro-LGBT” in the aftermath of his recent election victory.
A Crackdown on LGBTQ+ Freedom
On Sunday, as the LGBTQ+ community gathered for the Pride march, police in riot gear effectively blocked access to Istiklal Avenue and Taksim Square, traditional venues for the event. Streets in the vicinity were barricaded, and public transportation was suspended in the area. Undeterred, hundreds of people carrying rainbow and transgender flags assembled at Mistik Park in the Sisli district.
Resistance and Solidarity
Chanting slogans and voicing their concerns, the participants listened attentively as organizers read a statement commemorating Pride week. A large rainbow flag was prominently displayed on a nearby multi-storey car park. As the march progressed through the streets of the Sisli district, organizers eventually called for the dispersal of the attendees. However, the police apprehended over 50 individuals in the aftermath of the event, according to the organizers. Amnesty International’s Turkey office reported at least one person suffering head injuries during the police detention.
A Climate of Hostility
The LGBTQ+ community in Turkey has faced increasing targeting under Erdogan’s government. Despite homosexuality not being a crime, societal hostility towards it remains widespread, resulting in stricter police crackdowns on Pride parades over the years. In Izmir, the country’s third-largest city, at least 44 people were detained by the police on Sunday after authorities banned the Pride march. Istanbul Governor Davut Gul took to Twitter, stating that any activity deemed a threat to the traditional family structure would not be permitted.
As opposition to LGBTQ+ rights persists in Turkey, the Istanbul Pride march serves as a defiant act of resistance, highlighting the ongoing struggle for equality and acceptance in the country.