Police prevent Boğaziçi Pride March, detain dozens

Photo: Boğaziçi LGBTİA+/Twitter

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Police attacked the Pride March organized on Friday (May 20) by the Boğaziçi University LGBTI+ Studies Club (BÜLGBTİA+), which was shut down by the trustee-rector last year.

People started to gather on Southern Campus about half an hour before the march that was planned to begin at 5 p.m. Plain-clothes police officers and private security personnel surrounded the crowd. The security chief said the march would not be allowed.

After the students refused to leave, police detained at least 45 students and one academic by battering them. One student was hospitalized after falling ill.

The attack on what would be the ninth Pride March of Boğaziçi University was the latest example of the systematic violence against the LGBTI+s at the school that has been going on for one and a half years.

The school administration had previously said no events other than a music festival would be allowed on Friday.

ILGA Europe released a statement on Twitter, announcing support for the students: "We condemn the violent crackdown on Bogazici University's Pride march today which violates LGBTI students' right to freedom of assembly & expression. We call for those detained to be released immediately & authorities to investigate any violence used."

We condemn the violent crackdown on Bogazici University's Pride march today which violates LGBTI students' right to freedom of assembly & expression. We call for those detained to be released immediately & authorities to investigate any violence used. #BoğaziçiOnurYürüyüşü https://t.co/xUR2iI5rs1

— ILGA-Europe (@ILGAEurope) May 20, 2022

(EMK/RT/VK)