Dozens of people, including at least one journalist, were detained in Istanbul on Sunday after LGBTQ+ community members and allies went ahead with the city's annual Pride march in defiance of a government ban.
Organisers reported that at least 50 individuals were taken into custody by police. The detentions occurred as activists attempted to gather for the march, which has been officially banned by local authorities for several years. In anticipation of the event, police had erected iron barriers around the central Taksim Square, a traditional gathering point for protests, and restricted access to public transport in the area.
Despite the heavy police presence, participants adapted by organising smaller demonstrations in various neighbourhoods across the city. In one location, protestors were heard chanting, "My love, today isn't over yet. In fact, we're just getting started. We're not giving up. We'll keep taking to the streets from every corner we're in.”
Journalist Among Those Detained
The Turkish Journalists’ Union confirmed that Muberra Unsal, a journalist with a valid press card, was among those detained while covering the event. "Journalists covering the Istanbul Pride March faced unlawful interference again this year," the union stated on social media, noting that Unsal was taken into custody despite identifying herself as a member of the press.
A Worsening Climate for LGBTQ+ Rights
While same-sex sexual activity is not criminalised in Turkey, the country offers no legal protections against discrimination for LGBTQ+ individuals. The climate has become increasingly hostile under President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, whose government has frequently targeted the community with inflammatory rhetoric.
In 2023, Erdoğan described LGBTQ+ people as one of the "biggest threats against the family" and has previously blamed homosexuality for a decline in the country's birthrate. This official stance has emboldened authorities to crack down on public expressions of LGBTQ+ identity, including the annual Pride marches that once drew large crowds in Istanbul.
The situation is reflected in international rankings. The 2026 Rainbow Map from ILGA-Europe, which assesses the legal and policy situation for LGBTQ+ people across the continent, ranked Turkey 47th out of 49 countries, placing it above only Azerbaijan and Russia.
