Turkey: Police fired tear gas at LGBTI+ march in Ankara – 36 arrested

THE Turkish police today used tear gas and pepper spray to stop an LGBTQI+ Pride march in Ankara, making at least 36 arrests after authorities banned such marches in cities across the country for security reasons.

Reuters reporters saw police pepper spray activists and drag them to the ground before handcuffing them and putting them into police buses. UniKuir, activist organization LGBT+ based in Ankara, said at least 36 people were arrested.

Last week in Istanbul, the police broke up a larger annual course Pride and detained more than 300 people.

Thousands of people used to attend the annual Pride marches on Istiklal Avenue, Istanbul’s main thoroughfare, but in recent years the government under President Tayyip Erdogan and the Islamist-leaning Justice and Development Party (AKP) has hardened its stance on rights. of homosexuals.

THE homosexuality it is not a crime in Turkey, but hostility towards it is widespread and the police crackdown on Pride parades has become increasingly harsh over the years.

Source: News Beast

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