Group condemns İstanbul exhibition for 'displaying LGBTI+ propaganda, nudity'

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Today, a group of individuals identfying as "Muslim Turks" condemned an exhibition organized by the İstanbul Metropolitan Municipality (İBB), accusing it of displaying "nudity and LGBTI+ propaganda."

Chanting "We don't want perversion in our neighborhood," the group called for the resignation of Ekrem İmamoğlu, the mayor of İstanbul who is a member of the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP).

Speaking on behalf of the group, Özlem Doğan, the Ankara Representative of Milat Gazetesi, stated that the exhibition included "pagan rituals," "photos containing nudity and hostility towards the police," and "displays promoting LGBT and socialism."

CHP’li İstanbul Büyükşehir Belediyesi’nin restore ettiği Feshane-i Amire binasında, cami önünde dansözlerin bulunduğu tablolar, +18 görseller ve LGBT propagandası içeren yazılar sergilenmeye başlandı. pic.twitter.com/n6UvumKhIt

— TRHaber (@trhaber_com) June 25, 2023

Doğan emphasized, "As the Muslim Turkish nation, we will continue to fight until the exhibition is closed."

Kürşat Mican, the President of the Unity and Struggle Platform, highlighted the importance of displaying art at Feshane that aligns with the historical, national, and spiritual values. He claimed that the "LGBT lobby has surrounded Turkey."

The exhibition in the Fatih district has also been targeted on social media by users who accuse it of "promoting terrorist propaganda" and featuring photographs from the Gezi Park Protests.

According to the promotional bulletin of the İBB, the "Ortadan Başlamak" (Starting from the Middle) exhibition showcases over 400 artworks from various techniques and periods, with the participation of 19 curators and 300 artists. It extends across both indoor and outdoor spaces of Feshane Artİstanbul, located along the shores of the Golden Horn. (TY/VK)