ISTANBUL (AP) — Turkish authorities detained over 50 individuals who attempted to participate in the Istanbul Pride march on Sunday, continuing a decade-long crackdown on the LGBTQ+ event. The heavy police presence in key areas of the city effectively prevented any significant gatherings, forcing organizers to change the meeting location multiple times throughout the day.
Yildiz Tar, editor-in-chief of the LGBTQ+ rights organization Kaos GL, shared on X that a total of 54 individuals were detained during the Istanbul Pride activities, which included six lawyers. By Sunday evening, seven of the detainees had been released, whereas 47 remained in custody. Furthermore, the Confederation of Progressive Trade Unions of Turkey, known as DISK, reported that at least three journalists were among those apprehended during the event.
Kezban Konukcu, a Member of Parliament from the Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM), spoke out against the detentions, stating that "the palace regime will not be able to stay in power by demonizing the LGBTQ community." Her participation highlights the underlying tensions between the Turkish government and LGBTQ+ rights advocates, particularly as state authority clashes with societal demands for equality and representation.
Since 2015, the Istanbul Pride march has been banned as the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) has increasingly aligned itself with more conservative factions of its political base. Once a vibrant event that attracted tens of thousands of attendees, the annual celebration of LGBTQ+ pride has been stifled over the years amid escalating repression against LGBTQ+ individuals in Turkey.
The bans and subsequent enforcement against Pride events illustrate the broader challenges faced by LGBTQ+ communities within Turkey, where state-sanctioned hostility often translates into physical and legal repression. The LGBTQ+ community hopes for greater acceptance and rights as they continue to advocate for their visibility and safety in a political environment that often marginalizes them.
