Istanbul Pride banned, but planners pledge to march

ISTANBUL — Turkish authorities announced Saturday they will not allow the Istanbul Pride march to take place Sunday — the third year in a row the celebration has been banned. The move prompted criticism from rights groups and fears of possible violence, as Pride organizers said they would defy the ban.

For more than a decade, Istanbul Pride had attracted tens of thousands of participants, making it one of largest gatherings celebrating gay, lesbian and transgender rights and diversity in the Muslim world.

Unlike other Muslim countries, homosexuality is not a crime in Turkey. However, lesbian, gay and transgender activists say they lack legal protections and face widespread social stigma in a nation that is heavily influenced by conservative and religious values.

The Istanbul governor’s office said the Pride march would be banned to keep public order and for the safety of participants and tourists. It said the area around central Taksim Square, where the march begins, was not designated for demonstrations.

The Pride committee said the ban violates domestic and international laws on the right to peaceful assembly. It asked the governor’s office to reconsider and fulfill its obligations by providing security precautions.

This week, like last year, ultranationalist and conservative groups said they would not allow the Pride march to take place even if the authorities allowed it. LGBT activists said the ban legitimizes threats and hate speech under the guise of protecting the public’s “sensitivities.”

Amnesty International expressed “deep worry” following the ban and said Turkish authorities violated freedom of expression and assembly in a “routine and arbitrary way.”

“Turkey should protect rather than ban Pride marches,” Amnesty said, adding it would make sure to document developments on Sunday.

The bans are “a reflection of the increasingly conservative and majoritarian policies of the government,” said Murat Koylu of Ankara’s Kaos GL, a group promoting LGBT rights.

The Pride Week events and parade, held in Istanbul since 2003, allowed the LGBT community to try to assert their rights, including demands for explicit bans on discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.