Turkish police detain 36 activists during Eskişehir and Adana Pride marches, batter MP

Duvar English

Turkish police on July 9 battered and detained 36 activists in total during LGBTI+ Pride marches organized in Eskişehir and Adana provinces.

Adana Governor’s Office on July 7 announced that it banned "all kinds of actions and events that disrupt public order and public morality." The police on July 9 prevented LGBTI+ activists from issuing a press statement and temporarily detained eighteen people including lawyers using brute force. All participants were released later in the night. 

The police also tried to detain Green Left Party (YSP) lawmaker Perihan Koca, who was in Adana to support the march, with reverse handcuffs and beat her, even though she said she was an MP. Koca on July 10 made a statement in parliament to react to the attacks and said, "The criminal network in power is engaging in extremely dangerous provocations by targeting the lives and existence of the LGBTI+ community."

Eskişehir Governor’s Office on June 14 banned all pride week events in the province for a month on the grounds that they "violate public morality.” The police on July 9 battered and detained 18 LGBTI+ activists while they were issuing a press release in the city center. 

Antalya Governor’s Office on July 4 also banned pride week events in the city. As the LGBTI+ activists on July 9 sought to organize a pride march in the province, their plans were impeded by a police blockade at the union building where they had assembled, resulting in the cancellation of the march. The activists read the press statement in the building.

Turkish authorities in 2023 banned nearly all pride week events and attacked pride marches across the country. Dozens of LGBTI+ activists have been detained and subjected to violence.