Izmir Governorate

Despite the Governorate’s Ban, Izmir Holds Pride March

Standing up to Izmir Governorate’s ban, people who stand against homophobia and transphobia marched from Kıbrıs Sehitleri to Kordon in Izmir, protesting the ban.

Source: Yıldız Tar, “Valilik yasağına inat İzmir’de Onur Yürüyüşü”, 4 June 2016, http://kaosgl.org/sayfa.php?id=21800

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The Izmir Governor’s decision to ban Izmir Pride March on the grounds that it “received intelligence that there may be propaganda for terrorist organization” was protested. [Organized over social media] anti-homophobia and transphobia crowds met at 19:00 at Alsancak Kıbrıs Sehitleri Avenue to Kordon seaside.

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Police set up barricades against the anti-homophobia and transphobia crowds holding rainbow flags. Police announced “disperse” and the crowd shouted “homophobic state, we’ll topple you of course”. After a short wait, the marchers headed the opposite direction towards Kordon seaside.

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More than one hundred people marched and chanted “Love, love, freedom; keep hate far”, “Tayyip run run run, the fags are coming”, “Don’t be silent, shout, there are gays”. They screamed against homophobia and transphobia. They condemned the homophobic ban of the Izmir Governorate.

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During the march, there was a sit-in at the shore. Izmir residents were invited to the press conference to be held on 6 June at 11:00 in Konak City Council to condemn the ban on Izmir Pride.

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The demonstration to protest the Governorate’s ban using “terror” as its basis found support from businesses around Alsancak and people in the area.

Rainbow Solidarity Network: We Condemn the Governorate, Izmir Pride Cancelled

The Rainbow Solidarity Network made a statement about the ban on the 4th Izmir Pride March. The network announced that the march is cancelled and condemned the Izmir Governorate. The network will hold a press conference on 6 June. 

Source: Kaos GL, “Gökkuşağı Dayanışma Ağı: Valiliği kınıyoruz, İzmir Onur Yürüyüşü iptal”, 3 June 2016, http://kaosgl.org/sayfa.php?id=21798

The Rainbow Solidarity Network organizing Izmir Pride March made a press statement regarding the ban on the march by the Governorate. The Network condemned the Governorate’s homophobic, biphobic, and transphobic attitude. It announced that the march was cancelled.

 

The full statement:

Izmir Pride March, which was planned to take place on 4 June at 19:00 for the fourth time, was banned by the Izmir Governorate. Previously, the Ankara Governorate had banned the 17 May International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia march in Ankara organized by Kaos GL.

We condemn the Governorate!

We find these kinds of bans on LGBTIs’ freedom of expression to be unacceptable and condemn the Izmir Governorate’s homophobic, biphobic, and transphobic attitude. Our application for the march was submitted on 23 May and approved by the Governorate and the Police Headquarters. However, the fact that the march was cancelled on the last day, towards the end of working hours and at a time when we wouldn’t have the chance to object, makes this ban illegal. Furthermore, the fact that the ban used expressions such as “propaganda for terrorist organization” and “a march that looks innocent but can cause indignation” when the march has taken place in peace for years is proof that LGBTIs are not seen as equal citizens. The suspicion of terror is the most important repressive argument by oppressive regimes to suppress society. The decision states that the intelligence of “chanting slogans praising illegal terror organizations” was “partially” confirmed. Such a vague, baseless, and frivolous statement preventing our democratic right to demonstrate is unacceptable.

We announce to all who stand against homophobia, biphobia, and transphobia that this year the march cannot take place under these circumstances.

Press Conference on 6 June

We will hold a press conference about the Izmir Governorate’s discriminatory attitude that targets LGBTIs on 6 June at 11:00 at the Konak City Council and share details about the process with the public.

Despite all the bans and the neglect, the rainbow’s struggle for equality and freedom will continue!

The Rainbow Solidarity Network: 9 September University Equal Lane Community, Ege University LeGeBİT Community, LGBTI Commission of Eğitim-Sen Izmir Branch 2, HDK Izmir LGBTI Commission, Izmir LGBTI Initiative, Izmir LGBTI High School Initiative, Black Pink Triangle Izmir Association.

 

 

Governor bans Izmir Pride

After the ban on the Ankara March against Homophobia and Transphobia, the Izmir Governorate has banned Izmir Pride. The reasoning for the ban includes the statement “propaganda for terrorist organization”. The Rainbow Solidarity Network organizing the march will make a statement.  

Source: Kaos GL, “İzmir Onur Yürüyüşü’ne de Valilik Yasağı”, 3 June 2016, http://kaosgl.org/sayfa.php?id=21797


The Izmir Governorate banned the Izmir Pride March scheduled for tomorrow (4 June) on the basis that it “received intelligence that there may be propaganda for terrorist organization”. The march, organized by the Rainbow Solidarity Network consisting of LGBTI human rights organizations and supported by the Konak City Council was banned for the following reason:

“There have been certain tips that some persons or groups working for terror organizations will infiltrate the crowd during the demonstration; will conduct provocative acts to disturb the peace and quiet of society by provoking the crowd; will chant slogans praising illegal terror organizations during the demonstration; will open pieces of cloth that are the so-called flags of illegal organizations; these persons or groups infiltrating the crowd will attack security forces stationed there as well as public institutions, public and private vehicles with rocks, bats, Molotof cocktails, and improvised explosive devices; and will commit terror crimes. These intelligence tips have been partially confirmed”.

What happened in Ankara?

The Ankara Governorate banned Kaos GL’s March Against Homophobia and Transphobia scheduled for 22 May to celebrate IDAHOT. The Governorate put forth “certain social sensitivities” as the grounds for not finding the march “suitable” and refused to ensure the security of the march. It also lifted the decision of stay of execution by objecting to the Regional Administrative Court.