04/05/2023 | Writer: Selma Koçak
Ankara Pride March calls for solidarity at the first hearing of the lawsuit brought against 42 people, who were detained by using violence last year.
Ankara Pride March calls for solidarity at the first hearing of the lawsuit brought against 42 people, who were detained by using violence last year.
The police, who allowed anti-LGBTI+ Islamist groups to make hate and lynch calls at Hacı Bayram Mosque and Kuğulu Park, had attacked 2nd Ankara Pride March held on July 5, in 2022. 42 activists had been detained by using violence and torture during the police attack.
Ankara Pride March Committee announced the date of the case's first hearing brought against 42 people detained, by sharing a post today. Committee urged everyone who defends LGBTI+s rights to be in solidarity at the first hearing of the case at the Sıhhiye Courthouse, 52th Penal Court of First Instance at 10:00 am, on May 11, 2023.
“We resist to keep living freely”
Ankara Pride March Committee had drawn attention to the extent of the violence they were subjected to by making a press conference regarding the attacks by police and gang members at the Human Rights Association Ankara Branch on the day of the march.
“The attackers were not only the police. Some fascist groups also attacked the participants of the pride march by saying Allahuekber under the police protection, while our friends were being detained. Our lawyers were subjected to police attack when they went to hospital to follow the detainees. We were able to make our statements and the streets echoed with our slogans despite all the efforts for prevention and the police attack.
We know this force who attacked and detained our friends. This force is the same force that targets us in all aspects of our lives, that uses violence against us, that tries to restrict us by its imposition, that disregards and takes away the right to live of lubunyas (queers).
We are calling out again; let the LGBTI+phobic state, which excludes LGBTI+s from the society, targets LGBTI+s via Religious fatwas and Ministry edicts, know that our every march is a pride march. We don’t keep silent, we are not afraid and we continue to resist in ever field.”
Tags: human rights
