Antalya police attack LGBTI+ Pride March, detain four

Turkish police once again attacked the LGBTI+ Pride March, this time in the southern Antalya province, detaining four people. The Antalya Governorship previously “banned” the march.

Sunday July 14 2024 11:55 pm

Photo: sendika.org

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Antalya police on July 14 attacked the LGBTI+ Pride March, previously “banned” by the governorship.

The protestors wanted to hold a press statement at Attalos Square despite the ban, saying they have a constitutional right.

Police attacked the group, citing the governorship’s “ban” on all LGBTI+-related demonstrations and marches, and detained four people.

Antalya Onur Yürüyüşü'ne saldırı:

🔸Polis; "Benim bu açıklamayı yapmaya hakkım var, Anayasal hakkım" diyen LGBTİ+'lara saldırdı

🔸Polisin saldırısı sonucunda 4 kişi gözaltına alındıhttps://t.co/4zss34iHFH pic.twitter.com/i8QaAjsbVC
— sendika.org (@sendika_org) July 14, 2024

The LGBTI+ advocacy groups have called for the release of four people.

In recent years the government led by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and his Islamist-rooted Justice and Development Party (AKP) has toughened its stance on the LGBTI+ community. Homosexuality is not a crime in Turkey, but hostility to it is widespread and police crackdowns on Pride parades have been increasingly tougher over the years.