07/02/2025 | Writer: Kaos GL
On the second anniversary of 6 February earthquakes, women and LGBTI+s held a commemoration in Kadıköy. Police prevented the silent march. After the commemoration, one person was detained for carrying a banner.
Photographs: Arjin Vahap Güler
On the second anniversary of 6 February earthquakes, Istanbul Trans+ Pride Week, Istanbul LGBTI+ Pride Week and Women's Defence Network came together in Kadıköy Mehmet Ayvalıtaş Square and held a commemoration.
According to İlke TV's Zilan Azad, the police prevented those who wanted to make a silent march in Kadıköy after the commemoration.
In the opening speech of the commemoration, said : "Two years have passed, we have lost so much. Thousands of people died, maybe the street where we first kissed was destroyed. Our houses were destroyed, cats died, dogs died, trees died, our memories died. The street where we had our first beer, our mother, father, child, ex-lover, friend, mate, comrade... we lost so many things together. Two years have passed since the earthquake. We lost a lot, but we could not regain most of it’.
Women's Defence Network used the following expressions in its statement:
"The state, which did not exist in the first days of the earthquake, turned a destroyed city into a rent area afterwards. The people are still far from humane living conditions."
In the joint statement made by Istanbul Trans+ Pride Week and Istanbul LGBTI+ Pride Week, the discrimination faced by LGBTI+’s during the earthquake was reminded and the following statements were used:
"Trans people were not allowed in common tents, their access to hormones was prevented, they were deprived of safe spaces. The earthquake deepened the existing inequalities even more."
Pride Week Committees also reminded the LGBTI+ activists on trial for the 6 February commemoration held in front of Kadıköy Süreyya Opera and said:
"Our friends who participated in the commemoration are on trial, our events are banned. But we will still come together, we will not forget our losses and the lubunyas in the earthquake."
One person was detained after the earthquake commemoration
The police prevented the people who wanted to march silently during the commemoration. It is learned that one person was detained for holding a banner after the commemoration ended. Helin Sevgi, lawyer of the detained person, spoke to Zilan Azad from İlke TV.
Sevgi stated that her client was followed by the police after leaving the protest and was detained because of the banner:
"When I went to the police station, no report had been filed and the prosecutor's order was awaited. My client was kept waiting for minutes and was not treated in accordance with the law. Attempts were also made to prevent him from seeing a lawyer. My client was worried as it was the first time he had experienced such a situation."
Tags: human rights, women
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