Local authorities in Istanbul banned the screening of “Queer,” an LGBTQ-themed film starring Daniel Craig and Drew Starkey, hours before its scheduled festival premiere Thursday, citing potential risks to public peace and security.
The decision by the Kadikoy District Governor’s Office led streaming platform Mubi to cancel its entire four-day festival, declaring that “this ban not only targets a single film but also undermines the very essence and purpose of the festival.” The sold-out event was set to feature various film screenings, talks, and performances from November 7-10.
“The decision states that the film is prohibited on the grounds that it contains provocative content that could endanger public peace, with the ban being imposed for security reasons,” Mubi announced on X, formerly Twitter. “We believe this ban is a direct restriction on art and freedom of expression.”
The incident occurs amid escalating anti-LGBTQ rhetoric in Turkey, where President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has repeatedly referred to community members as “perverts” or “deviants.” Authorities have banned pride marches nationwide since 2015, with at least 15 people detained in Istanbul this June for participating in a pride rally.
“The reason for the ban on ‘Queer’ is of course that it is a film about LGBTI+ people. When you try to organize any LGBTI+-themed event in Turkey since 2015, you already encounter such bans,” said Yıldız Tar, editor-in-chief of LGBTQ news portal KaosGL. Tar noted that the same office banned the screening of “Pride” during Pride Month events in June 2023.
The 2024 film “Queer,” adapted from William S. Burroughs’ 1985 novel and directed by Luca Guadagnino, follows an American expatriate in 1950s Mexico City who develops an intimate relationship with a younger man. Mubi recently acquired distribution rights for multiple territories, including Turkey.
Film critic Yeşim Burul condemned the decision as “unacceptable censorship,” telling VOA, “We, as adults, can decide which film we can and cannot watch. Such festivals are already organized for those over the age of 18.”
The LGBTI+ Rights Commission of Istanbul’s Human Rights Association branch argued the ban violates both domestic law and Turkey’s obligations under the European Convention on Human Rights’ anti-discrimination principles. The Actors’ Union of Turkey labeled it “clearly an application of censorship,” emphasizing art’s role in broadening societal perspectives.
The Kadikoy District Governor’s Office has not responded to requests for comment.
