Turkish court lifts ban on Pride events in Ankara

A court has lifted a ban on LGBTI Pride events being held in Turkey’s capital city, Ankara. Kaos GL, a Turkish LGBTI rights group, successfully appealed the ban at the 12th administrative court on Friday (20 April). LGBTI rights supporters had attempted to appeal the ban in November 2018, which was ultimately rejected.

The ban had been in effect since November 2017. It had been introduced under emergency powers brought in following an attempted coup against the Turkish government in 2016. The governor’s office had initially justified the move on the grounds that LGBTI Pride events could ‘provoke reactions within certain segments’, such as counter-protests from far-right groups.

"This is a momentous day"

The court’s decision was also praised by  Fotis Filippou, Amnesty International’s Campaigns Director for Europe. ‘This is a momentous day for LGBTI people in Turkey and a huge victory for the LGBTI rights activists – love has won once again,’ said Filippou.