URGENT ACTION

AUTHORITIES UNLAWFULLY RESTRICT PRIDE MARCHES
Pride events planned in June and July in several Turkish cities were prevented by the authorities following unlawful bans in Izmir, Antalya, Mersin and Istanbul. On 30 June, Istanbul Pride march participants who were demonstrating peacefully were attacked with tear gas and plastic bullets by police.

NO FURTHER ACTION IS REQUESTED. MANY THANKS TO ALL WHO SENT APPEALS.

Turkish authorities refused to lift the unlawful bans on Pride events planned for June and July, failing to protect the right to peaceful assembly without discrimination of the LGBTI community in Turkey and their allies.

On 14 June the governorate of Izmir banned all Pride events, followed by the governorate of Antalya on 15 June and the governorate of Mersin on 25 June. Organizers were able to go ahead with some of the activities that were planned indoors. Organizers of the Pride events in Izmir reported that 20 participants of the Izmir Pride gathering of 22 June, including three children, were taken to police stations and were released the same day after police took their statements.

The Istanbul governor’s office banned the Istanbul Pride march planned for 30 June from taking place in Taksim Square, in central Istanbul and elsewhere in the city. Following last minute negotiations between police and Istanbul Pride organisers, participants were allowed to gather in Mis Street, near Taksim Square, where representatives of the Pride organising committee read out a press statement. However, police used tear gas and plastic bullets against Pride participants who had left Mis Street as they continued to celebrate in small groups in adjacent streets. This constituted an unwarranted and excessive use of police force on peaceful participants. 

The clampdown on the LGBTI community in Turkey has continued this year despite this Pride season being the first one after the end of Turkey’s state of emergency in July 2018. Istanbul Pride march has been banned by the authorities since 2015 on unlawful grounds.

THIS IS THE FIRST AND FINAL UPDATE FOR UA 86/19

LINK TO PREVIOUS UA: https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/EUR44/0541/2019/en/