Turkish police detained at least 52 people including several journalists as activist gathered for the pride march in Istanbul, which was banned by the megacity’s governor earlier in the week, daily BirGün reported on Sunday.
Bülent Kılıç, who was detained violently in last year’s banned march as well, was among the dozens targeted by the police.
Riot police units had cut off the streets leading to Taksim Square, where the march would traditionally begin. On the 20th edition of Istanbul Pride, the organising committee had called for a press release on a nearby avenue leading to the square.
In a later amended statement, the Istanbul Governor’s office announced the list of streets to be cut off, and called the march “a protest march without a permit that was called for on social media”.
Groups of riot police targeted LGBT activists sitting in nearby cafés before the crowd had gathered.
Dozens of officers also kettled several journalists, later detaining them.
“Despite all objections, the police continues to think of prevention of journalists as part of their job during demonstrations,” journalists union Basın-İş said in protest. The union also called on the governor’s office and Istanbul police to “stop preventing journalists from recording” and “walk back from this crime”.
At its height, in 2013 and 2014, more than 100,000 people attended Istanbul Pride in solidarity with the country’s much persecuted LGBT community.
Since 2015, the marches have been banned in Istanbul and other major provinces. Last year, leading LGBT advocacy groups had called for a picnic in a nearby park, which was also attacked by the police.
Turkey ranks the second worst country in Europe in the International Lesbian and Gay Association’s (ILGA) Rainbow ranking with a 4 percent score, which comes from its recognition of legal gender transition.
Ahval