Police take violent action against Pride March in Istanbul

Turkish police violently cracked down on the Pride March in Istanbul. The anti-riot police used tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse the participants who had gathered peacefully at Mis Street near the central Taksim Square. Many members of the LGBTI community sought shelter in hotels and homes. Taksim and several streets leading to the Istiklal Avenue were cordoned off.

How many people in total have been taken into custody is currently still unclear. Among those detained is photojournalist Bulent Kilic, who works as a reporter for the AFP news agency. Photos show Kilic being taken to the ground by police officers and handcuffed, with an officer kneeling on his back. Police justify the assault on the demonstration, which marks the end of “Istanbul Pride Week,” by banning the assembly. The Pride March (tr. Onur Yürüyüşü) had been banned by the Istanbul governor on Thursday, partly because of “possible provocations within the provincial borders.”

Part of the demonstration nevertheless moved to the Tünel. There, a statement was read out that said, among other things, “We protect and expand our living spaces – in defiance of the mafia, hatred and polarization. We protect our streets against the oppression of society, which in recent years has become systematic. The resistance against those who cancelled the women’s protection agreement “Istanbul Convention” will continue to be fought out by women and the LGBTI community.”

Murdered HDP activist Deniz Poyraz commemorated

“We as queer persons, who are defamed as ‘perverts’ by ministers of state whose relations with the mafia have been exposed, continue our struggle for gaining visibility, deviating from moralism and resisting in the streets.” Just as the Kurds, who were pushed out of politics and whose party headquarters were stormed with the aim of spreading fear, kept Deniz Poyraz alive; and just as the people in Ikizdere and all other places where nature, mountains, waters and forests are exploited continue their struggles, we LGBTI+ will also continue to fight.”