Turkish police fire tear gas at banned gay pride parade

Officials in Turkey earlier this week ordered that the capital’s Pride parade be cancelled – claiming the ban was because of “security” concerns following a mass shooting at a gay club in Orlando which left 49 dead.

Turkish police on Sunday fired tear gas and rubber bullets to break up a transgender rally in Istanbul.

Some footage showed the police firing teargas on some of those who gathered despite the government’s ban on the march, which was announced Friday by the city’s governor who cited ” security concerns”. Last year, police shot water cannons and tear gas at demonstrators.

Amnesty International Turkey says activists were marching this afternoon when police challenged them and insisted they disperse. Included in the restriction is Turkey’s annual Gay Pride parade which was scheduled for June 26.

“We are Ottomans”, shouted one, according to video of the incident. “We don’t want any of those people here.” the Dogan news agency reported protesters as saying.

“Turkish Islamist and ultra-nationalist groups had threatened counterdemonstrations to stop the parade from taking place but didn’t turn up Sunday”.

ISTANBUL (AP) – Turkish police fired tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse demonstrators who gathered Sunday for a gay pride rally in Istanbul despite a government ban.

It comes after suspected Islamists attacked people listening to a rock album in an Istanbul record store on Friday evening for drinking alcohol and listening to music during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan…

On Saturday, about 500 protesters took to the streets of the trendy Cihangir district to condemn the store attack, chanting “Shoulder to shoulder against fascism!” and denouncing President Recep Tayyip Erdogan as a “thief” and a “killer”.

On Saturday, Turkey’s strongman leader vowed to press ahead with the contested redevelopment of Istanbul’s Gezi park, next to Taksim Square, which triggered the 2013 revolt by mainly liberal Turks. At least nine people were killed in the protests.