According to activists and opposition politicians, the police in Istanbul on Sunday stopped a banned LGBTQ+ Pride demonstration, attempting to march more than 50 people.
Istanbul proud since 2015, including this year, has been banned annually by Turkish officials.
The Governor of Istanbul banned the LGBTQ+ community from organizing a pride parade, stating that it “reduces social peace, family structure and moral values.”
A strong police presence in the major area of the city stopped large meetings. The officials saw a conflict with activists holding rainbow flags at the center of the city.
LGBTQ+ Rift in Türkiye
“The Palace rule cannot maintain power by demonstrating the LGBTQ community,” said Konuku, a legalist Konuku, Konuku, a legalist of protest of the party participating in March.
Homosexuality is not a crime in Türkiye, but President Recep Tayip Erdogan has adopted harsh rhetoric against the LGBTQ+ community in the last decade.
In January, Erdogan declared 2025 as the “year of the family”, which accuses Turkish birth rate as a threat to existence and the LGBTQ+ movement of threatening the traditional family.
Hey said, “The primary goal of gender neutralization policies, in which LGBT is used as a beating Ram, is the sanctity of the family and family institution.”
Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International has warned that the government’s rhetoric and action is creating a hostile environment for the LGBTQ+ people, which has increased discrimination and violence.
Edited by: John Silk
