Amnesty International Launches Petition for İstanbul Pride
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The Amnesty International has launched a petition for the İstanbul LGBTİ+ Pride Parade to be held this year.
Noting that the governor has not allowed the parade to take place since 2015, it criticized the authorities in the country for "trampling over rights guaranteed under Turkey's own laws as well as international conventions that the country has signed up to."
Here is the full text of the Amnesty's invitation:
"A huge colorful parade on a busy shopping street to celebrate pride – this is what Istanbul's LGBTI people enjoyed over the years until, in 2014 and every year since, their annual Istanbul Pride was banned by the authorities.
"This year, their planned march on 30 June must be allowed to go ahead and be protected because celebrating Pride is a right that cannot be taken away by unlawful, arbitrary and discriminatory decisions by the authorities.
"2014 was the last year Istanbul Pride went ahead when over 90,000 people attended a vibrant, inclusive and peaceful march where love, diversity and human rights were celebrated along Istanbul's busy Istiklal Avenue. Since then people in Istanbul have been prevented from enjoying this special day.
"Last year, people were told at the last minute that they were able to gather in a small side street, still surrounded by riot police, who after an hour, dispersed the peaceful gathering resorting to unlawful use of force.
"Unfortunately, time and again, authorities in Turkey are trampling over rights guaranteed under Turkey's own laws as well as international conventions that the country has signed up to.
"It is time for LGBTI people in Turkey and their allies to start celebrating Pride again. And they need our support now more than ever.
"The governor of Istanbul must ensure that this year's Pride march takes place safely and protect the right to peaceful assembly without discrimination." (EKM/VK)