Latest news with #IstanbulPride
Time of India
30-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Turkey: Police detain dozens at banned LGBTQ+ Pride parade
AP Image Police in Istanbul on Sunday blocked attempts to hold a banned LGBTQ+ Pride demonstration, detaining more than 50 people who tried to march, according to activists and an opposition politician. Istanbul Pride has been banned annually by Turkish authorities since 2015, including this year. The governor of Istanbul had earlier banned the LGBTQ+ community from holding a Pride Parade, saying it "undermines social peace, family structure, and moral values." A strong police presence in key areas of the city prevented large gatherings. Officers were seen clashing with activists holding rainbow flags in the city center. Crack down on LGBTQ+ community in Turkey "The palace regime cannot maintain power by demonizing the LGBTQ community," Kezban Konukcu, a lawmaker from the opposition DEM Party who attended the march, said. Homosexuality is not a crime in Turkey, but President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has adopted increasingly harsh rhetoric against the LGBTQ+ community over the past decade. In January, Erdogan declared 2025 the "Year of the Family," describing Turkey's declining birth rate as an existential threat and accusing the LGBTQ+ movement of threatening the traditional family. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Free P2,000 GCash eGift UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo "The primary goal of the gender neutralization policies, in which LGBT is used as a battering ram, is the family and the sanctity of the family institution," he said at the time. Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International have warned that the government's rhetoric and actions are creating a hostile environment for LGBTQ+ people, leading to increased discrimination and violence.
The Independent
30-06-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Police detain over 50 people in crackdown on Istanbul Pride march
Turkish authorities detained more than 50 individuals attempting to participate in Istanbul Pride on Sunday, as a decade-long crackdown on the LGBTQ+ event continued. A significant police presence was deployed across key areas of Istanbul, effectively preventing large gatherings and forcing organisers to repeatedly alter the planned assembly points for the annual march. Yildiz Tar, editor-in-chief of the LGBTQ+ rights organization and the journal Kaos GL, wrote on X that 54 people were detained at Istanbul Pride, including six lawyers. As of Sunday evening, seven had been released and 47 were still in detention. The Confederation of Progressive Trade Unions of Turkey, or DISK, announced that at least three journalists were among the detained. 'The palace regime will not be able to stay in power by demonizing the LGBTQ community,' said Kezban Konukcu, Member of Parliament from the Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party, or DEM, who participated in the event. Once boasting tens of thousands of participants, Istanbul Pride has been banned since 2015 as the religious conservative Justice and Development Party began playing up to the more conservative elements of its base.
30-06-2025
- Politics
Turkish police detain over 50 people in crackdown on Istanbul Pride march
ISTANBUL -- Turkish authorities detained over 50 people attempting to march for Istanbul Pride on Sunday as part of its decade long crackdown on the event. A heavy police presence in hot spots around the city prevented significant gathering, and the organization had to change the gathering location multiple times. Yildiz Tar, editor-in-chief of the LGBTQ+ rights organization and the journal Kaos GL, wrote on X that 54 people were detained at Istanbul Pride, including six lawyers. As of Sunday evening, seven had been released and 47 were still in detention. The Confederation of Progressive Trade Unions of Turkey, or DISK, announced that at least three journalists were among the detained. 'The palace regime will not be able to stay in power by demonizing the LGBTQ community,' said Kezban Konukcu, Member of Parliament from the Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party, or DEM, who participated in the event. Once boasting tens of thousands of participants, Istanbul Pride has been banned since 2015 as the religious conservative Justice and Development Party began playing up to the more conservative elements of its base.
LeMonde
30-06-2025
- Politics
- LeMonde
More than 50 arrested ahead of banned Istanbul pride parade
Police arrested more than 50 people in Istanbul Sunday, June 29 ahead of a banned LGBTQ+ pride march, the city's bar association said. "Before today's Istanbul Pride march, four of our colleagues, including members of our Human Rights Centre, along with more than 50 people, were deprived of their liberty through arbitrary, unjust, and illegal detention," the Istanbul Bar's Human Rights Centre posted on X. Earlier Sunday, police arrested protesters near the central Ortakoy district, AFP journalists observed on the scene. Once a lively affair with thousands of marchers, Istanbul Pride has been banned each year since 2015 by Turkey's ruling conservative government. "These calls, which undermine social peace, family structure, and moral values, are prohibited," Istanbul Governor Davut Gul warned on X on Saturday. "No gathering or march that threatens public order will be tolerated," he added. Taksim Square, one of the city's main venues for protests, celebrations and rallies, was blocked off by police from early Sunday. According to a video posted on X by Queer Feminist Scholars, one protester chanted "We didn't give up, we came, we believed, we are here," as she and a dozen others ran to avoid arrest. Homosexuality is not criminalised in Turkey, but homophobia is widespread. It reaches even the highest levels of government, with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan regularly describing LGBTQ+ people as "perverts" and a threat to the traditional family. The banning of Istanbul pride follows the failure of Hungary's conservative leader Viktor Orban to prevent his country's main pride parade from going ahead. A estimated 200,000 people, a record, marched in the Budapest Pride parade Saturday, defying a ban by Orban's government.
France 24
30-06-2025
- Politics
- France 24
Polie detain more than 50 ahead of banned Istanbul Prise parade
Police arrested more than 50 people in Istanbul Sunday ahead of a banned LGBTQ+ pride march, the city's bar association said. "Before today's Istanbul Pride march, four of our colleagues, including members of our Human Rights Centre, along with more than 50 people, were deprived of their liberty through arbitrary, unjust, and illegal detention," the Istanbul Bar's Human Rights Centre posted on X. Earlier Sunday, police arrested protesters near the central Ortakoy district, AFP journalists observed on the scene. Once a lively affair with thousands of marchers, Istanbul Pride has been banned each year since 2015 by Turkey 's ruling conservative government. "These calls, which undermine social peace, family structure, and moral values, are prohibited," Istanbul Governor Davut Gul warned on X on Saturday. "No gathering or march that threatens public order will be tolerated," he added. Taksim Square, one of the city's main venues for protests, celebrations and rallies, was blocked off by police from early Sunday. According to a video posted on X by Queer Feminist Scholars, one protester chanted "We didn't give up, we came, we believed, we are here," as she and a dozen others ran to avoid arrest. Homosexuality is not criminalised in Turkey, but homophobia is widespread. It reaches even the highest levels of government, with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan regularly describing LGBTQ+ people as "perverts" and a threat to the traditional family. The banning of Istanbul pride follows the failure of Hungary's conservative leader Viktor Orban to prevent his country's main pride parade from going ahead. A estimated 200,000 people, a record, marched in the Budapest Pride parade Saturday, defying a ban by Orban's government.
