Star Metro - Turkey police detain dozens over pro-LGBTQ Istanbul rally

The protesters had gathered outside Istanbul's main Caglayan courthouse under heavy police surveillance, chanting: "Long live the struggle for freedom!", "Free those detained immediately!" and "Despite hatred, long live life!"

The demonstration followed sweeping nationwide raids at the weekend in which police arrested dozens of people as part of what the government says is President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's "Decade of the Family" initiative.

Turkey's LGBTQ community has increasingly come under pressure from the authorities, with Erdogan describing it as a "deviant movement" of "perverts".

In Istanbul, police surrounded the protesters and repeatedly warned them over a loudspeaker that the gathering was "illegal".

Before the group, which unfurled a banner reading "Being LGBTQ is not a crime", could issue a statement, police moved in and detained them, AFP journalists said.

"I am very angry, frustrated and disappointed. I have been following cases concerning justice in Turkey for a very long time, and what we are seeing now is deeply disturbing," a 44-year-old protester, who identified herself only as Zeynep for fear of repercussions, told AFP.

"These people have not committed any crime simply by being who they are, or by defending their own or other people's human rights," she said.

"I think as a society we are very tired, very sad and very angry. We keep seeing innocent people being targeted while people accused of much more serious crimes are not held accountable."

Turkish police arrested dozens of people on Sunday in gay bars and at the homes of LGBTQ activists on charges including "obscenity", "assisting prostitution" and having "financial links abroad".

Authorities have blocked social media accounts belonging to human rights defenders and media outlets as part of operations dubbed "My Family Is Safe."

The European Union on Monday voiced concern over the arrests and urged Ankara to ensure respect for human rights.

- Pro-Kurd party slams 'repression' -

Turkey's pro-Kurdish DEM party on Tuesday denounced the arrests, saying "repression" undermined the peace process it is mediating between Ankara and PKK militants.

"The language of peace cannot go hand in hand with repression," the party said on X.

"Pursuing a peace process and building a democratic society while speaking of peace on the one hand and restricting democratic space on the other will neither be convincing nor inspire confidence."

Justice Minister Akin Gurlek has vowed to continue the campaign, brushing off concerns voiced by the European Union.

The DEM is acting as an intermediary between the Turkish government and jailed PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan, following the banned Kurdish force's disbandment.

DEM is regularly accused by other opposition parties of sparing the government criticism so as not to jeopardise the peace process aimed at ending its decades-long separatist campaign.

Same-sex relations is not a criminal offence in Turkey, but homophobia is prevalent, including at the highest levels of the state.

A.Bergeron--SMC