Five foreign nationals who were among more than 100 people recently detained at a Pride march in İstanbul are facing deportation, local media reported on Tuesday, citing LGBT+ advocacy group KAOS GL.
Turkish police on June 25 detained 113 people, including foreign nationals, at a Pride march in İstanbul in what local officials called an effort to halt “propaganda” undermining “national and spiritual values.”
According to KAOS GL, five foreign nationals – from Iran, Libya, Russia, Portugal and Australia – including both registered and undocumented migrants, are being held in deportation centers and are under the threat of being returned to their countries.
One of the foreigners reportedly suffered a severe injury to the leg and has not received medical treatment.
If the Iranian refugee is sent back to Iran, he could face a death sentence due to his sexual orientation, KAOS GL said, adding that they are “deeply concerned” about his situation.
“Our friend and his entire family sought refuge in Turkey in 2013 due to the torture and threats to their safety they experienced in their country of origin. They are recognized as refugees and our friend is currently being held at the Tuzla Deportation Center with no communication available. We have no information about the proceedings or actions being taken against him,” the advocacy group said.
Homosexuality is not illegal in Turkey, but homophobia is widespread. After a spectacular Pride March in İstanbul drew 100,000 people in 2014, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s Islamic-rooted Justice and Development Party (AKP) government responded by banning future events in the city, citing security concerns.
It is common for Erdoğan and other politicians from the AKP to attack LGBTI+ individuals and accuse them of perversion and ruining family values.
Turkey was ranked 48th among 49 countries as regards the human rights of LGBT people, according to the 2023 Rainbow Europe Map published by the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association (ILGA)-Europe.
