Article author:
Reuters
Ankara — Turkish police used Tiagas and pepper spray to stop the LGBTQ + pride march in the capital Ankara on Tuesday, and authorities banned such marches in cities across the country for safety reasons. After that, he detained at least 36 people.
Reuters journalists saw police peppers spraying activists and dragging across the ground before handcuffing them onto the bus. Uni Kuir, a group of Ankara-based LGBTQ + activists, said at least 36 people had been detained.
Last week in Istanbul, police disbanded a larger annual pride procession and detained more than 300 people.
Thousands of people attended the annual Pride March on Mainistiqlal Avenue in Istanbul, but in recent years a government led by President Tayyip Erdogan and the Muslim-based AK Party. Is strengthening its attitude towards gay rights.
Homosexuality is not a crime in Turkey, but hostility to homosexuality is widespread and police crackdowns on the pride parade have been tightened over the years. (Report by Mert Ozkan, written by Ece Toksabay, edited by Peter Graff)
