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Istanbul's 'Gay March' Stirs Security Concerns
🇲🇦 Morocco /Culture & Society

Istanbul's 'Gay March' Stirs Security Concerns

From Hespress · () Arabic

Translated from Arabic, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • Activists condemned the ban on Istanbul's annual LGBTQ+ Pride march, which has been prohibited since 2015.
  • Authorities cited "security concerns" as the reason for the ban and restricted public transport and access to the city center.
  • Despite the ban, some demonstrators attempted to gather, resulting in swift detentions by plainclothes security forces.

Activists have strongly denounced the ban on Istanbul's annual LGBTQ+ Pride march, which took place on Sunday. Organizers stated, "You cannot silence our voices through repression, nor our slogans through bans."

Turkish authorities had previously prohibited the march, scheduled for Sunday, and closed off the central area around the popular Istiklal shopping street. Public transportation services in the vicinity were also restricted. The Istanbul Pride march has been banned every year since 2015, with authorities consistently citing "security concerns" as justification.

Despite the official prohibition, groups of demonstrators attempted to assemble in the Asian side of Istanbul. Online footage showed people marching and whistling before being quickly apprehended by plainclothes security officers. Reports indicate that several individuals were detained.

You cannot silence our voices through repression, nor our slogans through bans.

— March organizersThe organizers of the Pride march condemned the authorities' ban on the event.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Hespress in Arabic. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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