Istanbul gay pride march hit with tear gas and rubber bullets
Hundreds of people defy ban on event by authorities in the Muslim-majority country
Nearly 1,000 people joined in the Istanbul Pride march yesterday despite Turkish authorities banning the event for the fourth year in a row.
The marchers gathered in the city’s Istiklal Avenue and Taksim Square, where they unfolded giant rainbow flags and read out a press statement as police in riot gear patrolled the area.
The annual Istanbul rally is “the most important LGBT event in a Muslim country in the region”, says The Daily Telegraph.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
However, violence erupted when police ordered activists to disperse and then fired rubber bullets against some who tried to access Istiklal Avenue.
Amnesty International tweeted that 11 people had been detained, and called for them to be released “immediately”. Tear gas was also used against some activists, the human rights group added.
“Peacefully gathering and marching are rights under domestic and international laws that the governor of Istanbul must uphold,” Amnesty International said.
The Istanbul governor told officials that they “did not find it appropriate for the Pride Walk to take place”, according to a statement from Istanbul LGBT+ Pride Week on Facebook late on Friday.
Istanbul Pride was banned in 2014, after having taken place without issue for more than a decade. The city’s governor has cited concerns about the “security of citizens and tourists” and “public order”.
This year, the organisers released a press statement on Facebook hours before the march, saying: “The governor cited the excuse of security in its decision to ban the march and in one word, this is comical. Our marches went on peacefully without being banned for 13 years.”
Meanwhile, one activist told reporters: “People are not afraid, shopkeepers are not afraid. However, the governorship is afraid, the police are afraid.”
Although homosexuality is legal in Turkey, LGBT individuals frequently cite abuse and harassment. Critics accuse President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Islam-oriented Justice and Development Party (AKP) of showing no interest in expanding minority rights and of being intolerant of dissent.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Has the Taliban banned women from speaking?
Today's Big Question 'Rambling' message about 'bizarre' restriction joins series of recent decrees that amount to silencing of Afghanistan's women
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Cuba's energy crisis
The Explainer Already beset by a host of issues, the island nation is struggling with nationwide blackouts
By Rebekah Evans, The Week UK Published
-
Putin's fixation with shamans
Under the Radar Secretive Russian leader, said to be fascinated with occult and pagan rituals, allegedly asked for blessing over nuclear weapons
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Chimpanzees are dying of human diseases
Under the radar Great apes are vulnerable to human pathogens thanks to genetic similarity, increased contact and no immunity
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Deaths of Jesse Baird and Luke Davies hang over Sydney's Mardi Gras
The Explainer Police officer, the former partner of TV presenter victim, charged with two counts of murder after turning himself in
By Austin Chen, The Week UK Published
-
Quiz of The Week: 24 February - 1 March
Puzzles and Quizzes Have you been paying attention to The Week's news?
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Will mounting discontent affect Iran election?
Today's Big Question Low turnout is expected in poll seen as crucial test for Tehran's leadership
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Sweden clears final NATO hurdle with Hungary vote
Speed Read Hungary's parliament overwhelmingly approved Sweden's accession to NATO
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published