Protest against 'LGBTI+phobic' public service ad in İzmir: 10 detained

Click to read the article in Turkish

A protest was held in İzmir yesterday (September 12)  called "Speaking Out Against LGBTI+ Phobic State Institutions." Police attacked the protest resulting in at least 10 group members being taken into custody.

The protest was organized in response to the Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK) airing a public service announcement on some national channels titled "Big Family March," which targeted the existence and right to life of LGBTI+ individuals and called for hate rallies.

Police attacked the demonstration in front of the RTÜK regional office in Pasaport, İzmir, citing a governorship ban. At least 10 people were detained.

The governorship's statement, which explained the ban, stated, "It is possible for such activities involving attitudes and behavior against general morality to provoke public reaction and for some persons or groups with radical viewpoints to show reaction to such activities." 

What happened?

On September 6th, the Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK) approved the preparation of a public service announcement related to the event "Say No to LGBT Propaganda" organized by the Istanbul Family Foundation, which ostracizes and targets individuals solely based on their sexual orientation and gender identity.

With this latest homophobic move by RTÜK, the hate-promoting public service announcement can be broadcast on television.

RTÜK member İlhan Taşçı stated on Twitter that the decision to approve the public service announcement was made by a majority vote, citing the reason as, "If we don't put a stop to this trend, our children and youth won't be celebrating April 23rd and May 19th!" A similar video was broadcast as a public service announcement before last year's hate rallies, leading the Kaos GL Association to file a lawsuit against the Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK) for broadcasting the hate rally as a public service announcement." (EMK/PE)