Turkish police shut down Pride parade, detain dozens after arrests in Istanbul

WARNING: Video contains violent content not suitable for all viewers. Viewer discretion is advised. Turkish police shut down Istanbul’s annual Pride Parade, detain dozens after arrests Turkish police blocked hundreds of people from gathering for Istanbul’s annual Pride parade on Sunday and detained dozens after local authorities banned the march from going ahead again this year. Thousands of people used to attend Pride marches on Istanbul’s main Istiklal Avenue. However, in recent years, the government led by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has toughened its stance on LGBTQ freedom. Homosexuality is not a crime in Turkey, but hostility to it is widespread and the police crackdown on the parades have grown increasingly tougher over the years. On Sunday, police in riot gear prevented access to Taksim Square and blockaded many streets in the nearby Cihangir neighbourhood, where people had tried to convene. Public transportation in the area was also shut down.