Turkish police detain dozens at banned Istanbul Pride march

Turkish police detained at least 30 people in central Istanbul on Sunday as they tried to take part in a Pride March, which authorities had banned as part of a years-long clampdown on LGBTQ+ events, an opposition politician said.

Footage obtained by Reuters showed police scuffling with a group of activists holding rainbow flags in the city centre before rounding them up and loading them into police vans.

Kezban Konukcu, a lawmaker from the pro-Kurdish DEM Party who attended the march, told Reuters that at least 30 people had been taken into custody.

Police did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The Istanbul governor's office had earlier deemed the march unlawful and said groups promoting the event were operating "illegally".

Authorities have banned Pride marches in Turkey’s largest city since 2015, citing public safety and security concerns.

Powered by Froala Editor