25 Jun 2021 | 02:23 PM UTC
Turkey: LGBTQ rights activists to demonstrate in Istanbul's Taksim Square from 17:00 June 26
LGBTQ rights activists to demonstrate at Taksim Square, Istanbul, Turkey, from 17:00 June 26; security disruptions, clashes likely.
Event
LGBTQ rights activists plan to demonstrate in central Istanbul the evening of June 26 as part of Istanbul Pride celebrations. Participants will gather at Taksim Square from 17:00; attendance could reach the thousands.
Authorities have not granted permission for the event. Additional police will deploy to monitor proceedings and likely attempt to prevent gatherings; associated security measures will prompt localized disruptions in the surrounding area. Isolated clashes between police and activists are likely if demonstrators do not comply with police orders. At Pride demonstrations in previous years, security services have resorted to riot control measures, including tear gas and rubber bullets, to disperse activists. While bystanders are unlikely to be directly targeted in any violence, they would face an indirect threat of physical harm.
Advice
Avoid the demonstration as a routine security precaution and to mitigate associated disruptions. Heed instructions from security forces and leave the area at the first sign of a confrontation. Check for transport disruptions and allow extra time for travel in the surrounding area the evening of June 26.
