Istanbul's
governor has banned a gay and transgender pride march which was due to take
place in the city on Sunday, citing security concerns after threats from an
ultra-
nationalist group.
It will be
the second year running that Istanbul's LGBT march, described in the past as
the biggest in the Muslim world, has been blocked by city authorities.
The
ultra-nationalist Alperen Hearths group threatened last week to prevent the
march if authorities did not act, and the governor's office said on Saturday
that it took its decision out of concern for the security of marchers, tourists
and residents.
The
organizers of the march said they would discuss their response later on
Saturday.
The gay pride
parade in Istanbul - a city seen as a relative safe haven by members of the gay
community from elsewhere in the Middle East, including refugees from Syria and
Iraq - has usually been a peaceful event.
But two
years ago police used tear gas and water cannon to disperse participants, after
organizers said they had been refused permission because it coincided with the
holy month of Ramadan.
While
homosexuality is not a crime in Turkey unlike many other Muslim countries,
homophobia remains widespread. Critics say President Tayyip Erdogan and his
Islamist-rooted AK Party have shown little interest in expanding rights for
minorities, gays and women, and are intolerant of dissent.
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