Istanbul, Turkey (BN24) – Turkish police detained more than 50 people on Sunday as authorities cracked down on the Istanbul Pride march, extending a years-long campaign to suppress LGBTQ+ gatherings in the city.
A heavy security presence and barricades prevented large groups from assembling in traditional rally areas. Organizers were forced to change the meeting point multiple times to avoid police blockades and detentions.
Yildiz Tar, editor-in-chief of the LGBTQ+ rights publication Kaos GL, said on social media that 54 people were taken into custody during the Pride event, including six lawyers who had come to monitor the situation. By Sunday evening, seven detainees had been released while 47 remained in custody.
The Confederation of Progressive Trade Unions of Turkey, known as DISK, reported that at least three journalists covering the march were also detained.
Kezban Konukcu, a member of parliament from the Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM), joined demonstrators and condemned the sweeping arrests.
“The palace regime will not be able to stay in power by demonizing the LGBTQ community,” Konukcu said.
Once among the region’s largest LGBTQ+ celebrations, drawing tens of thousands of participants to central Istanbul, Pride marches have been officially banned since 2015. That year marked a shift as President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s ruling Justice and Development Party began leaning more heavily on religiously conservative supporters.
Despite the bans, LGBTQ+ advocates have continued to stage smaller demonstrations and face regular police crackdowns.
