Police Detain 50 People After LGBT Community Parade In Istanbul Turkey

Illustration of the LGBT parade. (Wikimedia Commons/Jordy91 at English Wikipedia)

JAKARTA - Turkish police detained at least 50 people on Sunday, after the LGBT community in Istanbul held a march.

Police in riot gear prevented access to Istiklal Avenue, a traditional venue for the LGBT community's Pride parade, as well as Taxim Square in downtown on Sunday. The surrounding streets are blockaded and public transportation in the area is halted.

In the afternoon, hundreds of people carrying rainbow flags and transgender flags gathered in Taman Mistik in Sisli district.

They chanted slogans, while the committee read out a statement to mark Pride's week. A large rainbow flag was hung in a nearby graded parking lot.

A group of people carrying rainbow flags lined up on the streets of Sisli District, before the committee asked them to disperse.

Police detained more than 50 people after the march, organizers said. Amnesty International's Turkey office said at least one person suffered head injuries while being detained by police.

Organizers said their community had been targeted by President Erdogan's administration.

"We do not accept this policy of hatred and denial," Istanbul LGBTI+ Pride Week said in a statement.

Meanwhile, Istanbul Governor Davut Gul said on Twitter this month any activity that threatens the traditional family structure will not be allowed.

Separately in the coastal city of Izmir, Turkey's third-largest city, police detained at least 44 people on Sunday after authorities banned the Pride march, Istanbul LGBTI+ Pride Week said.

It is known that the government led by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the AK Party have taken a firm stance on LGBTQ + freedom.

Speaking after his victory in the general election last month, President Erdogan accused opposition parties of being "pro-LGBT".

Homosexuality is not a crime in Turkey, but hostilities towards it are widespread and the police crackdown on the Pride parade has become tougher over the past few years.