Istanbul Bans Pride March for the Third Consecutive Year

Turkey has banned a gay and transgender pride march in Istanbul for the third time citing security concerns. 

RELATED: 
Millions Attend World’s Biggest Pride Parade in Sao Paulo, Brazil

Activists had called for the rally to begin at 5 p.m. on Sunday, June 25, starting from Taksim Square.

But the city governor's office said such gatherings are not allowed in the popular meeting place and the surrounding streets.

“There will be no permission for a demonstration or a march on the said date considering the safety of participants and tourists in the area… and public order,” it said in a statement.

It also said other groups had raised objections and urged people not to take part. 

Since 2003, Istanbul's annual LGBTI Pride march had been one of the largest in the Muslim world, attracting up to 100,000 people in 2014.

But the following year saw a crackdown by the Turkish authorities.

Security forces fired water cannon and tear gas to disperse thousands of marchers as they tried to gather in Taksim Square.

Authorities have not allowed the Pride march since.

Organizers believe that the celebrations in 2015 and 2016 were banned because they coincided with Islam's holy month of Ramadan.

Turkey’s ultra-nationalist Alperen Hearths group had threatened last week to prevent the march if authorities did not act. 

“Wherever they march, we’ll also go. We will close down that street and they will not be able to go there. If we want, our numbers can reach 200,000,” Kürşat Mican, the head of the Alperen Hearths, said on national TV.

The organizer of the event, Istanbul LGBTI and Pride committee, said in a statement that the parade is part of the freedom of expression and called on the government to withdraw the decision. 

“We would like to underline once more that we are not in a particular place in a particular city, but we are everywhere. We do not want our voice to be heard just for one da,y but we want to speak every day. Thus we are saying once more: 'Get Used to It: We are Here and We are NOT leaving!'” the statement said.