On Sunday, Turkish police beat and detained at least 30 activists in Taksim Square, Istanbul. The activists had sought to take part in a Pride March that local authorities had banned on the books. The authorities instituted the ban as part of their efforts to step up their campaign against LGBTQ+ gatherings. These events have come under greater and greater restrictions in recent years.
The Istanbul governor’s office once again described the march as unlawful, calling on groups advertising for the event to act “illegally.” Since 2015, local officials in Turkey’s most populous city have prohibited Pride marches. All under the guise of public safety and public security. Despite these efforts to erase them, small groups of activists still manage to celebrate Pride Week every year, showcasing their strength even while facing repression.
Kezban Konukcu, another MP from Turkey’s pro-Kurdish DEMP branch, verified the detentions. She called attention to the risks that individuals encounter when they oppose the bans.
“At least 30 people had been taken into custody,” – Kezban Konukcu, DEMP lawmaker
We know that police responses are getting deadlier by the day. This change further illustrates the larger trend of increasing crackdowns on dissent and freedom of assembly in Turkey. President Tayyip Erdogan’s AK Party has increasingly adopted a homophobic and transphobic tone over the last few years. Over the last 10 years, this antagonism has escalated viciously. In January, Erdogan announced that 2025 will be the “Year of the Family.” He claimed that Turkey’s falling birth rate was a cause for existential concern and targeted the LGBTQ+ movement for weakening the social fabric.
Human rights activists have condemned how the authorities have responded. They say it is indicative of a more systemic effort both locally and nationally to silence marginalized communities. In sharp contrast to Turkey’s repressive climate, European capitals such as Madrid, Paris, Cologne, and London freely celebrate Pride. In Budapest, tens of thousands marched against a ban and filled the streets in celebration during massive pride events.
Istanbul-based activists battled intensely for their rights, visibility, and existence. Turkish authorities were resolute in their position, hellbent on stopping any events that they thought challenged their ideological ideals. LGBTQ+ advocates are constantly exerting pressure to achieve acknowledgment and rights. Through the challenges and danger, they remain deeply dedicated to their struggle, even while surrounded by hostile forces.
