Thousands gather at anti-LGBTI+ rally in İstanbul

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Thousands of people gathered yesterday (September 18) in the Saraçhane Park in Fatih, İstanbul for the anti-LGBTI+ "Great Family Meeting."

The event was organized by the Yesevi Alperenler Ocağı Education, Culture and Solidarity Association.

In a video promoting the event, the association says, "If you say I'm also against the LGBT propaganda and imposition that spreads to the world and our country in the digital age... Join our great family meeting to protect our family and future generations."

The Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK) published the video on its website in the "public service announcements" category.

"No hate speech"

The rally in the Saraçhane Park began at around 3 p.m. After the rally, the crown marched to Beyazıt Square.

The host of the rally said, "We are on a historic day, when we have gathered for our last stand, our families. We came together with you to protect our society and our generation.

"We need to state that LGBTIs are not targeted here, there is no room for hate speech. We are here to say no to global games, to the dirty and ugly plan that is based on global plots and destroying our family values.

"They have lobbies, global support. We only have our families. Their biggest weapons are the social media, TV series and movies. Watch your children. Keep track of whom they are befriending."

Meltem Ayvalı, the deputy chair of the Patriotic (Vatan) Party, also spoke at the rally, saying, "withdrawing from the İstanbul Convention, which is a LGBTI convention, was the first step. Now, a tougher battle awaits us."

Elif Keskin, a board member of the Republican Women's Association, criticized pop singer Gülşen, who was recently arrested because of a joke, for her support for the LGBTI rights. "The only flag to be carried by an artist is the Turkish flag," she said about Gülşen displaying a rainbow flag at her concerts.

"It's not inborn"

Journalist Ersin Çelik said, "They've been making a mess since yesterday for you not to come here. This was the first of the huge steps to be taken from now on. This march is just the beginning."

Dr. Mustafa Merter, a psychiatrist, said, "These people have a medical problem. This is a global problem. There is a big mistake we are doing in the psychology community. They say this is inborn. There is no such thing. They tell people that there is no cure for this.

"If an 18-year-old youngster comes to me and says he wants to be treated and if a want to treat him, I may be punished in Switzerland.

"Sexual perversions are not genetic, they occur later. We are not against our poor homosexual citizens. We are against those who impose this.

Abdurrahman Uzun, a popular social media figure, said, "These marches will spread all around the country."

Sami Yılmaz, the head of the İstanbul Family Foundation, said LGBTI+s "wage a war against Allah."

After the speeches, the crowd started marching towards the square, with chanting "Allahuakbar" and "Muslims, don't sleep, protect your children." (TY/AS/VK)