Activists Attacked by Unknown Perpetrators after Pride Parade
Activists who attended 13th İstanbul LGBTI Pride Parade were firstly attacked by police and then by unknown perpetrators in Tophane district of İstanbul.
At least four protesters were injured and taken to hospital while at least two activists were injured by plastic bullet fired by police.
A transsexual male had a broken ribcage and his rib got infected after that.
Another transsexual male received a heavy blow in his head and was hospitalized.
A male had his leg broken and a female was hit heavily in the head.
Perpetrators in Tophane attacked activists and beat them. One of the perpetrator had his little daughter beside him according to activists.
Republican People’s Party's (CHP) İstanbul Deputy Mahmut Tanal had his leg injured during police attack. Photo journalists were attacked by TOMA (riot control vehicle) and kicked by the police. Gay journalist Yıldız Tar from bianet was also battered by police. Even though Tar requested police not to touch them, he got an answer from them “We don’t touch people like you,” referring his sexual orientation.
Woman and LGBTI Editor of bianet, Çiçek Tahaoğlu, was disrupted by police since she and journalist Yıldız Tar wanted to take photos of police intervention.
Students Youth Union (Genç-Sen) had set up a stand for summer camp in İstiklal Avenue. Police detained three members of Genç-Sen due to jingle of Union claiming they were insulting the President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
Governorship of İstanbul stated any injury case had not been reported to their health institutions. Deputy Police Commissioner said, “The police don’t beat journalists.”
Kaos GL, an LGBTI organization, stated they would give legal support to activists who were exposed to police violence during 13th İstanbul LGBTI Pride Parade while İstanbul Pride Week Committee demanded aggrieved parts to go to Human Rights Association (İHD) and Human Rights Foundation of Turkey (TİHV) and receive reports from them and then send the reports to the committee. (AS/ÇT/BD)
Click here to read this article in Turkish