Police intervene in LGBT Pride Parade with tear gas, water cannons
Police used tear gas and water cannons to disperse the group gathered for the 23rd LGBT Pride Parade in Taksim on Sunday. (Photo: Cihan)
June 28, 2015, Sunday/ 18:15:06/ TODAYSZAMAN.COM WITH REUTERS / ISTANBUL
Turkish police fired water cannon and rubber pellets to disperse a gay pride parade in central İstanbul on Sunday, after organisers said they had been refused permission to march this year because of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
Police sprayed jets of water from trucks at crowds of hundreds who had gathered - many in colourful clothing and waving rainbow flags - near the central Taksim Square neighbourhood, one of Istanbul's busiest shopping and tourist areas.
As the crowds fell back, men who appeared to be plain clothes police officers detained several demonstrators, according to footage from a Reuters cameraman at the scene.
The news portal sendika.org reported that the police also used plastic bullets and detained a protestor who was standing in front of a TOMA. The crowd used whistles to protest the police. Republican People's Party (CHP) İstanbul deputy Mahmut Tanal also climbed on a TOMA, asking the police to stop the intervention.
CHP deputy Tanal is seen talking to police on a TOMA. (Photo: Cihan)
While homosexuality is not a crime in Turkey, unlike many other Muslim countries, homophobia remains widespread. Critics say President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and the ruling AK Party he founded have shown little interest in expanding rights for minorities, gays and women, and are intolerant of dissent.
Organisers said on Twitter they had been denied permission to hold the parade because it coincided with Ramadan this year. The parade has been held in the past and has been described as the biggest gay pride event in the Muslim world.
"These people do not hurl stones and they never would. They do not throw petrol bombs. They just ask for a legal recognition," said one supporter, who gave his name as Bulent.
"This summarises what has been happening in Turkey. Any request for rights is met like this."
The police action drew swift international condemnation on Twitter, including from singer and rights activist Lady Gaga who called on authorities to "set an example for people to celebrate both Ramadan and pride in peace, instead of dividing with violence".
Sunday's crackdown comes just a month after police used tear gas and water cannon on May Day demonstrators, and recalls the 2013 Gezi Park protests that turned into an international embarrassment for Erdoğan.
Those protests began as a peaceful demonstration against plans to redevelop Gezi Park, a leafy corner of Taksim Square, but later spiralled into weeks of nationwide protests against Erdoğan's rule.
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