More than 50 people were detained in Istanbul after trying to take part in a banned LGBTQ+ Pride march on Sunday. The arrests came after Turkish police blocked roads and stopped crowds from forming in the city center. Activists and an opposition lawmaker confirmed the number of detentions, saying police had acted with force to prevent the event.
The annual Istanbul Pride Parade has been banned by Turkish authorities since 2015. This year was no exception. The governor of Istanbul issued a ban on the gathering, claiming it would harm public peace, damage family values, and threaten moral standards.
Police were deployed in large numbers across central areas of Istanbul. Officers closed off streets, checked identity cards, and broke up groups that tried to gather. Witnesses reported that rainbow flags were taken from marchers and that some people were pushed to the ground before being taken into police vehicles.
A lawmaker from the opposition DEM Party, Kezban Konukcu, was present at the scene. She accused the ruling government of using the LGBTQ+ community as a target to hold on to power. She said this effort to suppress a peaceful protest was part of a wider campaign to create fear and divide society. She called the arrests unlawful and said the right to protest must be protected.
In Turkey, homosexuality is not a crime, but public opinion and government policy have become more hostile in recent years. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has taken an increasingly aggressive stance against the LGBTQ+ community. His speeches often portray LGBTQ+ people as a threat to Turkish traditions, religion, and national identity.
In January, Erdogan announced that 2025 would be the “Year of the Family.” He warned that the country’s falling birth rate could endanger its future and said LGBTQ+ campaigns were trying to destroy the traditional family system. He accused LGBTQ+ movements of using gender issues to weaken the role of the family in society. In one speech, he said the ultimate goal of these movements was to damage the values that make up Turkish identity.
Rights groups say these comments are creating a dangerous environment. Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International have issued reports warning that hate speech, abuse, and physical attacks on LGBTQ+ people are on the rise. They say the government’s harsh language encourages violence and increases discrimination.
Both organizations have called on Turkish leaders to stop spreading hate and to respect human rights. They say banning peaceful gatherings, such as Pride parades, violates basic freedoms like the right to assemble and express oneself. They also say the police must stop using force against peaceful demonstrators.
Despite the ban, LGBTQ+ groups in Turkey continue to mark Pride with smaller events. These often include film screenings, art exhibitions, and community discussions. However, larger gatherings, such as marches, are regularly shut down. Last year, more than 100 people were arrested during a similar protest.
Activists say the crackdown is not just about LGBTQ+ rights. They believe it is part of a wider plan to limit free speech and stop any form of public resistance. Many fear that Turkey is becoming less democratic and more authoritarian.
People within the LGBTQ+ community say they are living in fear. Some report being attacked on the streets, while others say they have lost jobs or housing because of their identity. Many are calling for more support from the global community. They want international groups to pressure Turkey to respect human rights and to stop using LGBTQ+ people as political targets.
Even in the face of bans and arrests, many say they will not stop fighting for their rights. They believe visibility and protest are key to creating a more open and fair society. For them, Pride is not just a celebration, but a demand for justice, safety, and equal treatment under the law.
The Turkish government has not issued a new statement since Sunday’s arrests. But the ban on Pride marches remains in place. Police continue to monitor central areas, and many activists have been warned not to gather in large groups. Still, the LGBTQ+ community in Turkey says it will not be silenced. It continues to demand respect, legal protection, and the right to live without fear.
