50 Arrested at Istanbul Pride Parade; Activists: We Will Not Accept Hatred and Denial

On Sunday, June 25, Turkish police arrested at least 50 people following a pride parade by sexual and gender activists in Istanbul. The Turkish government, led by Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and the Justice and Development Party, has taken a tougher stance against their freedoms in recent years. Erdoğan had accused opposition parties of supporting sexual and gender activists after his final victory in last month's presidential elections. Istanbul riot police prevented access to Istiklal Street, the site of the pride parade in previous years, as well as Taksim Square. Surrounding streets were also blocked, and public transportation in the area was suspended. Following these prohibitions, hundreds gathered in Mystic Park in the Şişli district. The demonstrators chanted slogans and the organizers read a statement to commemorate Pride Week. A large rainbow flag was also hung from a nearby parking lot. Groups of people marched down Şişli Street carrying rainbow flags, but the organizers asked them to disperse. According to the organizers, the police arrested more than 50 people after the march. Amnesty International also reported that one person was injured in the head due to police beatings. The organizers of the Istanbul pride parade stated in a release: 'We do not accept this policy of hatred and denial.' They noted that after the pride parade was banned in Izmir, police also arrested at least 44 people in that city. In Turkey, homosexuality is not a crime, but hostility against it is widespread, and police repression of pride parades has intensified in recent years.