Turkey arrests around 50 people during Istanbul Pride march

At least 50 people, including a journalist, were detained during Istanbul’s Pride march on Sunday as Turkish authorities banned demonstrations and sealed off the main gathering points.

Police reinforced security around the city’s landmark Taksim Square with metal barriers. Local authorities also prohibited demonstrations in gathering areas including Kadikoy, on Istanbul’s Asian side, while metro traffic was restricted at several points in the city center.

The Turkish Journalists’ Union said reporters covering the march faced "illegal obstacles" again this year. The organization said journalist Muberra Unsal repeatedly identified herself as a journalist but was detained anyway.

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Journalists covering the Pride March in Istanbul are again facing illegal obstacles this year.

LGBTQ+ protesters gathered in several neighborhoods and vowed to continue their mobilization. "The day is not over. In fact, we are just getting started. We will not give up. We will continue taking to the streets, wherever we are," demonstrators chanted.

Authorities ordered the closure of an Istanbul gay bar on Saturday over alleged regulatory violations, without providing details. The closure followed online protests by Islamist groups against a planned LGBTQ+ cruise stop in Turkey. The cruise later removed Istanbul from its itinerary. Homosexuality is not illegal in Turkey, but President Recep Tayyip Erdogan frequently targets the LGBTQ+ community in verbal attacks and blames it for the country’s declining birth rate.

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The day is not over. In fact, we are just getting started. We will not give up. We will continue taking to the streets, wherever we are.