Turkey: Pride March in Istanbul July 1

Event

On Saturday, July 1, a LGBT Pride March is scheduled to take place in the Beyoglu district of Istanbul. According to the event organizers, individuals are expected to gather near Taksim Square at 17:00 (local time), before marching along Istiklal Caddesi. Turkish authorities have not authorized the march. A heavy police presence and counter-protests by conservative elements are likely; clashes between marchers and security forces or counter-protesters are possible.

Context

Pride events were also banned by Istanbul's governor in 2015, 2016, and 2017 allegedly due to security concerns. In 2016, police used tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse crowds of people who tried to hold the march despite government orders. Several people were detained. Conservative religious citizens often take issue with the public display of homosexuality and past parades have been met with protests and clashes with police. Homosexuality is not a crime in Turkey, as it is in some Muslim-majority states, but homophobia is still widespread among the more conservative portions of the population.

Advice

Individuals in Istanbul are advised to avoid all protests as a precaution, allow additional time to travel, and adhere to all instructions issued by the local authorities. More generally, due to the risk of terrorism, individuals should maintain a high degree of vigilance, report any suspicious objects or behavior to the relevant authorities, and be particularly cautious when visiting sites deemed particularly likely to be targeted in an attack (public transportation, train stations, ports, airports, public or government buildings, embassies or consulates, international organizations, schools and universities, religious sites, markets, hotels, and restaurants frequented by foreigners/Westerners, festivals, etc.).