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Istanbul Pride (Turkish:İstanbul Onur Yürüyüşü) is apride parade andLGBTQ demonstration held annually inTurkey's biggest city,Istanbul since 2003. Participants assemble inTaksim Square before marching the entire length ofİstiklal Avenue. It has been described as the first and biggest LGBT event inMuslim-majority countries.
The event reached roughly 5,000 people by 2010. In 2013, the pride parade, with the attendance ofGezi Park protesters attracted almost 100,000 people.[1][2] The 2014 Pride was the biggest LGBT event in Turkey's history and attracted more than 100,000 people.[3]
Since 2015 pride parades in Istanbul were denied permission by theGovernorship of Istanbul authorities. The governors repeatedly stated that the denials were based on security concerns and public order, but critics claimed the bans were taken on a religious and ideological basis. Despite the refusal, hundreds of people defied the ban each year, which resulted in law enforcement intervention.[4]
Politicians that have joined Istanbul Pride are mainly from the opposition partiesRepublican People's Party (CHP),Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) andWorker's Party of Turkey (TİP).
The event first took place in 2003 and now occurs each year on either the last Sunday of June or the first Sunday of July, to mark the end of Istanbul pride week. About 30 people took part in the first Gay Pride Istanbul. The numbers have increased exponentially each year, reaching roughly 5,000 people by 2010. The 2011 gathering attracted over 10,000 people, therefore making Gay Pride Istanbul the biggest march of its kind in the Muslim majority countries.[5][6][7][8] The 2012 pride march, which took place on 1 July, attracted between 10,000 and 30,000 people.[9][10]
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On 30 June 2013, the pride parade attracted almost 100,000 people.[1] The protesters were joined byGezi Park protesters, making the 2013 Istanbul Pride the biggest pride ever held in Turkey.[2] The 2014 pride attracted more than 100,000 people.[3] TheEuropean Union praised Turkey that the parade went ahead without disruption.[11]
On Sunday 29 June 2015,Reuters reported that Turkish police used a water cannon to disperse the gay pride parade.[12] In 2016 the pride march was banned by the local government "for the safety of our citizens, first and foremost the participants’, and for public order."[13] LGBT organizations have also not been allowed to make a press statement. The governate of Istanbul once again claimed that a gathering of LGBT would not be allowed. "Within Law No: 5442, this request has not been approved due to theterror attacks that have taken place in our country and the area; because provocative acts and events may take place when the sensitivities that have emerged in society are taken into account; and because it may cause a disruption in public order and the people's- including the participants of the event- tranquility, security, and welfare.".[14] Supporters of the Pride claimed this decision was religiously motivated and the event was banned because it would have take during the Muslim holy month ofRamadan.[12]
In 2017 theIstanbul Governor's Office yet again banned the LGBT Pride Parade, citing security concerns and public order.[15]
In 2018, for the fourth consecutive year the Istanbul Governor's Office yet again banned the LGBT Pride Parade, citing security concerns and public order, but around 1,000 people defied the ban, they were met with tear gas and rubber bullets. 11 participants were arrested.[16][17]
In 2019, the Istanbul Governor's Office yet again banned the LGBT Pride Parade, citing security concerns and public order.[18] subsequently, oppositionMember of the Grand National AssemblySezgin Tanrıkulu of theRepublican People's Party (CHP) lodged a parliamentary question to theVice President of TurkeyFuat Oktay asking why the deputy governor of Istanbul had banned Istanbul Pride. He also asked how many LGBT members had been killed in the last 17 years, the time the ruling partyJustice and Development Party (AKP) ruled the city, due to provocative hate speech, and raised concerns over discrimination against the LGBT community.[19][20] On 29 June, hundreds of people defied the ban, they were met with tear gas, shields, pepper gas and plastic bullets from the Police.[4][21]
Due to theCOVID-19 pandemic, Istanbul Pride was held online in 2020. Some activists gathered in person at Mis Sokak, which had been the finale of the 2003 parade.[22]
The trend of suppression has continued. Blockades andtear gas were used in 2021 and 25 people were arrested.[23] in 2022, 373 were arrested. In addition to blockades, public transportation to Taksim square was shut down.[24] Starting with 2023, and again in 2024, Istanbul Pride was held in non-Taksim square public spaces, and fake meeting calls were announced prior to thwart law enforcement. Despite these efforts, 2023 had 113 arrests, while 2024 had 11 arrests, three of whom were minors.[25][26]
Politicians that have joined Istanbul Pride are mainly from the opposition partiesHDP,CHP,TİP and include:
They call upon theTurkish authorities to guaranteefundamental rights andcivil liberties to all LGBT people.
In 2019, several opposition held municipalities have shown support to the LGBTI community on social media.Mersin,Edirne,Tarsus,Eskişehir,İzmir,Bodrum. Istanbul's local governments such asAtaşehir,Beşiktaş,Şişli,Kadıköy,Maltepe,Kartal also showed their sympathy.[27]
In 2019, shortly after the2019 Turkish local elections opposition politician andMayor of IstanbulEkrem İmamoğlu stated that the ban cannot be reversed as the right to give permission to demonstrations lies with the governorship and the governors of Turkish provinces are not elected but directly appointed by thepresidency.[28]
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