Turkish police on Sunday intervened with LGBT pride marchers who gathered in İstanbul’s Beyoğlu after İstanbul Governor’s Office banned the march over “security concerns.”
The governor’s office said in a statement released on Friday, “Our governor’s office will not allow such a parade or protest to be held [in Taksim] on the days announced before, in order to provide safety for the participants and other citizens and maintain public order. As the law requires, proper places for such events are announced before.”
The police closed entrances to Taksim Square and did not allow anyone to cross on Sunday. However some groups wanted to march to Taksim and they were dispersed by tear gasses.
11 protesters of LGBT march detained
The police also detained 11 people amongst the group who wanted to protest the LGBT pride march. The group gathered in Gülsuyu district and started chanting “Allahuekber.” Holding a Turkish flag, the group tried to march to Taksim, however the police prevented them from entering and detained 11.