More than 50 people, including a journalist, have been detained by Turkish authorities during this year’s Istanbul Pride on Sunday, June 28.
According to local journalists, undercover police officers detained Pride participants in Istanbul’s Kadıköy district while demonstrators marched through the streets chanting, “Today is our day, we are marching!” and carrying signs reading, “LGBT is human rights.”
Among those taken into custody was journalist Muberra Unsal, who was covering the event. According to the Turkish Journalists’ Union, Unsal repeatedly identified herself as a member of the press and presented a valid press credential before being detained.
Istanbul Pride was held annually without disruption from 2003 until 2015, when authorities banned the event, citing security concerns and the need to maintain “public order.” Before the ban, the march regularly drew crowds of up to 100,000 people celebrating LGBTQ+ visibility, love, and community.
Despite the restrictions, activists and allies have continued organizing Pride demonstrations every year, often facing police intervention. In 2022, approximately 400 people were detained during Istanbul Pride, while at least 53 people were arrested in 2025. This year was no exception, with authorities once again detaining dozens of peaceful participants.
The continued crackdown comes amid increasing hostility toward LGBTQ+ people in Turkey. While homosexuality remains legal, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has repeatedly targeted the community in public remarks, and officials have continued to defend Pride bans by citing public safety, security concerns, and public morality.
Remember, Pride is still a protest.
