Istanbul gay pride march hit with tear gas and rubber bullets

Hundreds of people defy ban on event by
authorities in the Muslim-majority country

One-Minute Read Hinnah Mian

However, violence erupted when police ordered activists to
disperse and then fired rubber bullets against some who tried to
access Istiklal Avenue.  

Amnesty International tweeted that 11 people had been detained,
and called for them to be released “immediately”. Tear gas was also
used against some activists, the human rights group added.

“Peacefully gathering and marching are rights under domestic and
international laws that the governor of Istanbul must uphold,”
Amnesty International said.

The Istanbul governor told officials that they “did not
find it appropriate for the Pride Walk to take place”, according to
a statement from Istanbul LGBT+ Pride Week on Facebook late on
Friday.

Istanbul Pride was banned in 2014, after having taken place
without issue for more than a decade. The city’s governor has cited
concerns about the “security of citizens and tourists” and “public
order”.

This year, the organisers released a press statement on Facebook
hours before the march, saying: “The governor cited the excuse of
security in its decision to ban the march and in one word, this is
comical. Our marches went on peacefully without being banned for 13
years.”

Meanwhile, one activist told reporters: “People are not
afraid, shopkeepers are not afraid. However, the governorship is
afraid, the police are afraid.” 

Although homosexuality is legal in Turkey, LGBT individuals
frequently cite abuse and harassment. Critics accuse President
Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Islam-oriented Justice and Development
Party (AKP) of showing no interest in expanding minority rights and
of being intolerant of dissent.