The Istanbul Pride march, 26 June, was broken up by police, and 373 activists were detained, including 30 minors. The Pride march has been banned since 2015.
Chants included “Kurdistan exists, queer people exist”, “Trans murders are political”, and “The world would shake if faggots and queers were free”. At a student LGBTI+ protest at Istanbul University, counter-protesters threatened violence and chanted “Takbir, Allahu Akbar”.
In 2016 it was reported that Turkey has the highest transgender murder rate in Europe. Last year Turkey withdrew from the Istanbul Convention meant to combat violence against women, and there have been a number of high-profile cases of femicide.
Although anti-LGBTI+ sentiment is not as central to right-wing populism in Turkey as it is in Hungary or Poland, it is still an important touchstone for the religious right. For instance, during the anti-government protests at Boğaziçi University, a university art show displaying an artwork with Mecca surrounded by LGBTI+ flags resulted in students being arrested and a government minister condemning them online as “four LGBT perverts.”
Many LGBTI+ organisations in Turkey have taken great care to show solidarity with other struggles. Kurdish and sex-worker LGBTI+ groups were involved in organising the pride parades, and the joint statement released by the Pride organisers showed solidarity with the plight of refugees and opposed the war in Kurdistan.
