Police Intervenes in LGBTI Pride Parade

Police intervened in 13^th LGBTI Pride Parade with using plastic bullet, tear gas and water cannon on paradegoers.

Pride march started at 5 o’clock p.m. Two activists were detained by the police. Paradegoers scattered through the streets and police intervention continued. Deputies from Republican People’s Party (CHP) and Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) explained they would make a statement at 6 o’clock p.m. in Taksim Square. Police said to deputies they would intervene in “whomever they met”.

Police let deputies talk via walkie-talkie. Filiz Kerestecioğlu, Beyza Üstün and Sezai Temelli from HDP and Sezgin Tanrıkulu, Selina Doğan and Mahmut Tanal from CHP and Hakan Taş who is a member of Berlin State Assembly from Left Party of Germany stated :” In spite of this unlawful intervention, we keep struggling even though we come from different political parties.” Officials from security general directorate and governorship said they couldn’t let the pride march happen because of Ramadan. 

Under the colorful LGBTI flag, deputies, their consultants, municipal officials and activists shouted slogans like “Make love out of spite” and “Run Tayyip (the President) Run, Faggots are coming”.

However, press statement of deputies was interrupted and police attacked once more to the activists.

Some activists were attacked in Tophane district and three men and a woman were taken to hospital due to bone fractures.

HDP and CHP deputies were in Taksim

Filiz Kerestecioğlu, Beyza Üstün and Sezai Temelli from HDP, Sezgin Tanrıkulu, Selina Doğan and Mahmut Tanal from CHP, Mayof of Beşiktaş district, Murat Hazinedar, Consulate General of the United States, Charles F. Hunter and Hakan Taş who is a member of Berlin State Assembly from Left Party of Germany were in Taksim to support Gay Pride and tried all day to stop police intervention.

CHP İstanbul Deputy Selina Doğan told bianet:

“Police is giving excuses like it’s Ramadan and so it’s a delicate situation but this intervention irritates people more. It is unacceptable. The President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan gives orders to police and this is unlawful.”

HDP İstanbul Deputy Filiz Kerestecioğlu said she met Vasip Şahin, Governor of İstanbul and the Governor couldn’t allow a pride march to be held because of Ramadan.

CHP İstanbul Deputy Sezgin Tanrıkulu told:

“Everyone has right to assembly and demonstration without receiving permission before according to law but this is not working in Turkey. Gay Pride Parade has taken place for years and it didn’t change. We will call the responsible persons to account. “

Gathered in İstiklal Avenue, paradegoers were intervened by water cannon fired from TOMA (Riot Control Vehicle). Journalists who wanted to take photos were disrupted and photo journalists were battered. Detainees were not allowed to see their lawyers.

Deputies continued to march after explanation

"We won’t let them override our rights. All deputies here tried to contact the Governor but they couldn't reach him. We will keep on struggling even though we come from different political parties against this kind of unlawful interventions.

CHP deputy Tanal, "Ramadan means mercy, respect and tolerance but they violate our fundamental rights and freedoms on the excuse that it's Ramadan. They don’t tolerate us like they tolerate ISIS. Human rights don’t have any religion, nation or gender.”

Boysan Yakar from Pride Week Committee, “Our march was stopped but we protected our Pride." 

Hundreds of people attended the march.

Love wins

23. İstanbul LGBTI Pride Week Committee made a written statement:

“Governorship banned 13th İstanbul LGBTI Pride Parade because of Ramadan without giving any excuses and notices. Police used tear gas and plastic bullets on paradegoers and attacked by using water cannons. We call for Governor of İstanbul, Vasip Şahin to obey the Constitution of the Republic of Turkey and stop the police attack. We call for all comrades who couldn’t come to Taksim but believes in freedom to cacerolazo at 6 o’clock p.m. wherever they are. Love wins!”

Deputies kept marching until they came in front of Galatarasay High School and broke up. Pride Parade took place in spite of interventions.

Pride Week Committee made only half of their press statement because police attacked by TOMA and the crowd broke up after being fired tear gas and water cannon. (AS/BD)

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