29/06/2015 | Writer: Kaos GL
Police attacked the LGBTI Pride Parade with water cannon and tear gas to disperse the participants at Istanbul Pride Parade on Sunday.
Police attacked the LGBTI Pride Parade with water cannon and tear gas to disperse the participants at Istanbul Pride Parade on Sunday.
The participants as well as journalists were exposed to violence, the disproportionate use of tear gas, and arbitrary detention by Turkey’s police forces. MPs from the CHP and HDP resisted together against the police attack. Despite of the police violence, rainbow flags were waived everywhere in Beyoğlu Street.
Turkish police fired water cannon and rubber pellets to disperse a crowd gathered around the LGBTI Pride Parade by using the month of Ramadan as an “excuse”.
A similar parade occurred peacefully in Istanbul without any incident last year during the month of Ramadan.
Pride Parade participants chanted slogans like "legs to shoulders against fascism", “don’t keep silent, shout it out, gays exist”, “Police, prostitute yourself and live proudly” against police brutality.
Just before the Parade, Kaos GL and Bianet editors were about to be taken into custody while recording police violence.
Cyber attacks to KaosGL.org
When police was attacking to pride participants, KaosGL.org faced cyber attacks. Could not access the site long time, technical difficulties continued until late at night.
U.S. Consul General in Istanbul Charles F. Hunter, MPs Filiz Kerestecioğlu, Beyza Üstün and Sezai Temelli from the HDP and MPs Sezgin Tanrıkulu and Mahmut Tanal from the CHP and Beşiktaş Mayor Murat Hazinedar were also in Taksim. MPs from the HDP and CHP formed a human chain to prevent riot police from attacking the participant of the Parade. They resisted against homophobia together.
The 23rd Istanbul LGBTI Pride Committee released an announcement and urged the participants to remain in place!
The announcement is as follows:
The 13th Istanbul LGBTI Pride Parade scheduled to take place at 17:00 in Taksim has suddenly been banned by the Governorate, using the month of Ramadan as an excuse, without any announcement.
The police is attacking tens of thousands of people with pepper spray, plastic bullets, and water cannon.
All entrances and exits to and from Taksim and Istiklal Street have been shut down.
We call on the Istanbul Governor Vasip Sahin to adhere to the Constitution of the Republic of Turkey, to immediately cease the attacks, and to make a public statement.
All Pride Parade participants are urged to remain in place and not leave Beyoglu until the walk can be started as planned.
People who believe in a free world but could not make it to Taksim: we invite you to make some noise with pots & pans or whatever you find, whereever you are, at 6pm.
WE ARE HERE, GET USED TO IT, WE ARE NOT LEAVING!
Love wins!
#GelYanima #JoinUs
The police did not allow the Pride Parade participants to make a press release at first, and then the participants walked through the Tunnel Square and were able to make a press release in such unfair conditions.
Participants walked to the Tünel Square, Police didn’t allow for press statement
At 19:00, Pride Parade participants walked into a crowd of police barricades and police opened the Tünel Square. In a press statement; Committee highlighted police attack. Police didn’t allow the full press statement.
5 LGBT individuals were attacked by unidentified persons. Nose of one of LGBT activists and hip of one activist were broken.
Police also continued to attack the night after the party.
Despite the ongoing police attack rainbow flags waved in all the streets of Beyoğlu all day!
Photos: Barış Paksoy Docu News Agency
Tags: life
