On Tuesday, police in the capital of Turkey dispersed an LGBTQ Pride march and arrested numerous people after which a counter march was seen.
Even though LGBTQ gatherings are prohibited in Turkey, roughly 50 individuals carrying rainbow flags marched toward a major park to celebrate Pride Month’s conclusion.
The participants were detained by police authorities on a crowded road in the heart of Ankara, preventing the gathering from entering the park. Some paraders were forced to the ground, which infuriated bystanders who attempted to physically assist or begged authorities to release them. Officers in plain clothes were seen shoving them away.
Some demonstrators were forced to the ground, which infuriated bystanders who attempted to physically assist or begged authorities to release them. Officers in plain clothes were seen shoving them away. At least 30 people, according to the organizers, were detained.
Near the park, a small gathering who saw the LGBTQ population as a threat conducted a counter-protest. Before now, Turkey was one of the few nations with a majority of Muslims to permit Pride marches. The initial one took place in 2003, the year President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s party took office.
The government has recently taken a tough stance toward gatherings in public by organizations that don’t share its traditional religious ideals. Pride activities have been accompanied by numerous arrests, as well as police deployment of tear gas and plastic pellets. Following a ban on Pride activities in Istanbul late last month, more than 300 LGBTQ individuals were briefly jailed.
Netizens had mixed reactions regarding the incident. Twitter user @Joshua077051812 tweeted, “Don’t let anyone tell you who you can and cannot be, and nobody has the right to alienate anyone from society because of their sexual orientation. To those who have experienced bigotry, I apologize for the pain, and trauma you have endured.”
Don’t let anyone tell you who you can and cannot be, and nobody has the right to alienate anyone from society because of their sexual orientation. To those who have experienced bigotry, I apologize for the pain, and trauma you have endured.
— JoshHQ (@Joshua077051812) July 5, 2022
Another Twitter user @FeelTheBurn_er tweeted, “Freedom of speech is a valuable thing, never forget that. If you refuse to respect someone’s right to free speech because you despise the community they belong to, you are tying the noose that the State will hang you on.”
freedom of speech is a valuable thing, never forget that. not acknowledging someone's freedom of speech because you hate the group they are part of is you tying the noose that the State will hang you on.
— Witness 🌻 (@FeelTheBurn_er) July 5, 2022
Twitter user @AsylumX2J tweeted, “Could be worse. Could’ve been multiple casualties from a rooftop shooting.”
Could be worse. Could've been multiple casualties from a rooftop shooting.
— Brian Taylor (@AsylumX2J) July 5, 2022
Turkish police used tear gas to disperse a crowd that had assembled for a Pride parade in Istanbul on June 26th. People gathered for the event in a side street off the city’s main Istiklal Avenue, some raising rainbow flags while others were being pushed and dragged by police in riot gear.
20 individuals were seized, one of whom was a photojournalist. Pride events have been regularly prohibited in Turkey in recent years. Thousands of people used to participate in the procession on Istanbul Street before that.
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