Turkish police seal off Istanbul city centre to block Trans Pride Parade

Officials had banned the city’s Trans Pride Parade on Sunday over fears it posed a threat to family values but activists still turned out to march

Police were nevertheless able to prevent parade participants from demonstrating at the city’s central Taksim Square with large-scale roadblocks

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Turkish police detain a member of the LGBTQ community in a side street during the Trans Pride march in Istanbul, Turkey on Sunday. Photo: EPA-EFE

Published: 2:44am, 19 Jun 2023

Activists in Istanbul turned out to march against the discrimination of trans people despite officials banning the city’s Trans Pride Parade on Sunday over fears it posed a threat to family values.

However police were nevertheless able to prevent parade participants from demonstrating at the city’s central Taksim Square with large-scale roadblocks.

Metro connections that could have shuttled protesters to Taksim Square were also interrupted. According to activist association Kaos GL, police mounted “attacks” on demonstration participants.

The governor of Istanbul, Davut Gül, had already announced in a tweet on Friday that he would not allow any events “that endanger our institution of the family.”

Members and supporters of the LGBTQ community during the Trans Pride march in Istanbul, Turkey on Sunday. Photo: EPA-EF

Other cities in Turkey also banned marches and events related to the annual pride month, which takes place every year around the world in June and serves, among other things, to improve the visibility of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and queer (LGBTQ) community.