site.btaIstanbul Authorities Ban Planned Pride March, Access to Taksim Square and Shishli Area

By decision of the Istanbul Valiyat (Istanbul Regional Government), public transport access to the central Taksim Square was blocked, the Milliyet newspaper reported on Sunday. The measures were taken against the LGBT community's planned march under the banner of “Pride Parade” as part of the announced “Pride Week” from June 16 to 22.

Metro stops in the area were closed and Taksim Square was surrounded by iron railings. Protest marches, rallies and other mass events were banned in Taksim and the neighbouring borough of Shishli. Barriers were placed at many places in Shishli and Taksim, and police controls were imposed at crossings.

"Such planned or likely upcoming events could threaten public order and security, disrupt social peace and negatively affect the fundamental rights and freedoms of our citizens. In this context, in order to prevent crimes, protect public health and morals or the rights and freedoms of others, and ensure public order and security, all types of outdoor and indoor events (meetings, marches, sit-ins, opening of booths, setting up of tents, distribution of leaflets, protest actions, etc.) are prohibited within the boundaries of Shishli borough," an official statement by the Shishli borough government quoted by Anka News Agency said.

Statements of the Istanbul Trans Pride Week Committee and its supporters circulate through social media posts. They include slogans with calls in support of people with different sexual orientations and gender identities, as well as protest positions against the bans.

"If you cannot handle transgender people, we are not going to back down. We do not recognize the ban on the march, which this year will be the 11th in a row," the opposition TV channel Halk said in a statement.

Results of a survey published by the Turkish-language edition of the Independent showed that 71.6% of Turkiye's populationexpressed negative attitudes towards homosexuality and LGBTI communities.