Istanbul district governor's offices ban Pride Week events

The district governor's offices of Kadıköy and Beyoğlu in Istanbul have banned all LGBTI+ Pride Week events for seven days, citing the generic reason of “ensuring peace, security and well-being” of society.

Tuesday June 21 2022 12:20 pm

Duvar English

District governor's offices of Kadıköy and Beyoğlu in Istanbul have banned all events planned as part of LGBTI+ Pride Week for a period of seven days. The decision came as the Istanbul LGBTI+ Pride Week marks its 30th anniversary this year.

In a statement released on its webpage, the Kadıköy governor's office said that the ban aims to “ensure peace, security, well-being [of society] and prevent crime from being committed within the district boundaries.” It also said that the ban would be in effect starting at midnight on June 20 and would continue until June 27.

Under the name of "routine visit," Istanbul police went to the venues that were planning to hold the LGBTI+ Pride Week events and conveyed them the decision of the Beyoğlu governor's office, Kaos GL reported.

Istanbul LGBTI+ Pride Week Committee deemed the ban decision “illegal” and said that it would appeal against it.

“We are thankful to our entire network of lawyers and venues that have supported us. We do not give up, we are not afraid! We will continue our activities in safe places and online,” it said in a statement on Twitter.

Bugün İstanbul 30. LGBTİ+ Onur Haftasının başlamasıyla beraber güvenlik şubeye bağlı polisler etkinliklerin gerçekleşeceği mekanlara "genel kontrol" adı altında denetim yapmaya çalışmıştır. pic.twitter.com/cdRETjrvav
— İstanbul LGBTİ+ Onur Haftası (@istanbulpride) June 20, 2022