‘Being LGBTQ is not a crime’: Dozens detained at Istanbul protest amid Turkey crackdown
ISTANBUL, Sept 16 — Turkish police yesterday detained dozens protesting against a nationwide LGBTQ crack...
Istanbul police detained numerous protesters opposing a nationwide crackdown on LGBTQ+ rights on September 16. Gathering outside Istanbul’s Caglayan courthouse under heavy police surveillance, demonstrators chanted slogans like "Long live the struggle for freedom!" and "Free those detained immediately!" Lawyers reported 91 arrests by midday.
The protest followed extensive police raids over the weekend, part of President Erdogan’s "Decade of the Family" initiative. Turkey's LGBTQ+ community has faced increasing pressure from authorities, with Erdogan branding it a "deviant movement of perverts." Protests erupted in Istanbul, where police surrounded the demonstrators, warning them the gathering was illegal.
Before the group could state their case, police moved in and detained them, according to AFP journalists. Among those arrested were two journalists, one from BirGun daily and the other from Germany's ARD television. Trade unions, democracy groups, women's organisations, feminists, and opposition parties joined the call for the rally, condemning it as unlawful and unjust.
The European Union expressed concern over the arrests and urged Turkey to respect human rights. Same-sex relations are legal in Turkey, but homophobia persists, including among high-ranking officials.
Written by urgent.news from Malay Mail's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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