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At least 50 people, including a journalist, were detained during an LGBTQ+ Pride event in Istanbul on Sunday. Turkish authorities have officially prohibited the annual Pride march since 2015.
According to the Turkish Journalists’ Union, one of those detained was Muberra Unsal, a credentialed journalist covering the event.
“Journalists covering the Istanbul Pride March faced unlawful interference again this year. Despite repeatedly identifying herself as a journalist, Unsal was also taken into custody,” reads a statement by the union posted on X.
Authorities erected barricades around Istanbul’s historic Taksim Square, closed several nearby streets, and restricted access to parts of the city’s public transportation network. LGBTQ+ activists instead gathered in multiple neighborhoods across Istanbul, where demonstrators continued to express solidarity despite the heavy police presence, South China Morning Post reports.
As police dispersed demonstrators, protesters vowed to continue advocating for LGBTQ+ rights.
“My love, today isn’t over yet. In fact, we’re just getting started. We’re not giving up. We’ll keep taking to the streets from every corner we’re in,” the protesters chanted.
Homosexuality is legal in Turkey and has never been criminalized under the modern Turkish Republic. However, LGBTQ+ people continue to face discrimination, and Pride marches have encountered increasing restrictions in recent years. Istanbul Pride was first held in 2003 and grew into one of the largest Pride celebrations in the Muslim-majority world, attracting tens of thousands of participants. Since 2015, however, authorities have almost consistently banned the annual march, citing public order and security concerns. Activists argue that the bans infringe upon freedom of assembly and expression.
The latest detentions come as LGBTQ+ rights remain a contentious issue in Turkey. Although homosexuality is not illegal in the country, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has frequently criticized the LGBTQ+ community and has blamed it for Turkey’s declining birth rate. Meanwhile, human rights organizations have repeatedly called on Turkish authorities to allow peaceful demonstrations and protect the rights of LGBTQ+ people and journalists covering public events. Read here for more information on this story.
