02/04/2024 | Writer: Yusuf Çelik
Members of the Direnişin Renkleri (Colors of Resistance) have spoken to KaosGL.org about attacks they were subjected to during Newroz celebrations.
On Sunday, March 17th, police and nationalist groups launched an attack on members of Colors of Resistance participating in the Newroz celebrations at Izmir Gündoğdu Square. We sat down with Selman, Hilal, and Oğuzhan from Colors of Resistance to delve into the details of the attack and its aftermath.
Hilal, a member of Colors of Resistance, described her attempt to enter the area with an LGBTI+ flag, noting that they were stopped by the police. “I was holding the LGBTI+ flag, but they didn’t allow me to pass,” they explained. “I informed my friends about the situation, and one of them tried to enter with the flag. It was then that the police intervened.”
“Because LGBTI disrupts order”
Reminding that there were no tensions with the police during the Newroz celebrations in 2023, Selman said, ”We didn’t foresee any conflicts during that Newroz. While the possibility lingered in our minds, it seemed improbable. However, as tensions rose, we explored various avenues to bring the flag into the area. Realizing it was unfeasible, we chose to stand in solidarity with our friends, asserting our will and stance. When we questioned why our flags were prohibited, the response was ‘because LGBT, it disrupts the order’.” Eventually, Selman recounted, they managed to enter the area with their flags after a heated exchange with the police.
“One of the assailants returned to offer an apology”
“One of the assailants who attacked us later returned to offer an apology,” recounted the members of Colors of Resistance and added: “Despite being attacked eight times, we remained steadfast in supporting our friends amidst the chaos.”
Hilal described the sequence of attacks, stating, “Following the initial assault, we managed to push back the nationalists, rendering their efforts futile. However, they regrouped swiftly, instigating further provocations and targeting the LGBTI+ flag. However one of the assailants who participated in the attacks later returned to offer an apology. In total, we endured 7-8 assaults, with our group being targeted from all sides. Alongside us, other activists were also subjected to these attacks.”
“The attack should not be associated with the Kurdish community”
Oğuzhan emphasized on social media that the attack should not be associated with the Kurdish community, stating, “This assault cannot be associated with Kurdish people. Kurds are already marginalized and unjustly criminalized. It’s misguided to link this attack to Kurdish identity. This was a fascist aggression, and fascism transcends race. The true adversary of the LGBTI+ community is the state and its policy of hatred. Our solidarity, standing united, was our source of resilience in that moment.”
* This article has been produced with the financial support of the European Union. Its content is under the sole responsibility of the author and does not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union.
Translation: Selma Koçak
Tags: human rights
