Turkish police detain 20 people at Pride march in Ankara

Turkish police on June 29 detained 20 people that gathered for a Pride march in the capital Ankara, days after dozens were detained in Istanbul at a larger parade.

Tuesday June 29 2021 05:50 pm

Duvar English

Turkish police detained 20 people at a small Pride march in the capital Ankara on June 29, days after dozens were detained during an intervention at a larger parade in Istanbul, reports said.

Video footage showed police officers dispersing those at the march, some of whom were waving rainbow flags, carrying banners and singing.

Butün engellemelere ve yasaklamalara rağmen Ankara'da Onur Yürüyüşü için toplanan arkadaşlarımıza, polis tarafından saldırı gerçekleştirildi. Birçok arkadaşımız darp ile gözaltına alındı.

Gözaltılar, tutuklamalar, baskıları bizleri yıldıramaz. #OnurYürüyüşü #SokaklarBizim pic.twitter.com/TqkDt1kpzh
— Kızıl Okyanus LGBTİ+ 🏳️‍🌈 (@kizilokyanus1) June 29, 2021

The Ankara Pride March Committee held a press meeting at the Kuğulu Park saying that it will continue to speak up against every kind of discrimination.

"We are LGBTI+ individuals whom the fascist, masculine and homophobic state structure is continuously trying to oppress, and who are subjected to psychological, physical and sexual violence," the press statement read.

Afterwards, the crowds started to walk on Tunalı Hilmi Avenue, where they shouted slogans of "Do not stay silent, shout" and "Homophobic state will, of course, be demolished."

Police officers battered and detained 20 of the marchers.

Ankara Onur Yürüyüşü için Kuğulu Park’ta okunan basın açıklamasının ardından polis, Tunalı Hilmi Caddesi'nde 20 kişiyi darp ederek gözaltına aldı.https://t.co/QHO4Mg0CR8 pic.twitter.com/5myAajqEok
— Ekmek ve Gül (@ekmekvegul) June 29, 2021

On June 26, police in riot gear were among those intervening in central Istanbul, including pushing and dragging some people who had gathered for a Pride parade.

Turkish authorities have repeatedly banned Pride events in recent years. Before then, thousands of people used to take part in the parade.