Demonstrators avoided downtown Taksim Square, which was cordoned off by police, and marched down a rainbow-flagged street for about 10 minutes before dispersing. “Your thousands of policemen, helicopters and bans will not stop us. Every street in this city belongs to us,” said the organizers. Eleven participants in the parade were arrested, they later reported on the X web service.
A large police force was deployed to control access to Istiklal's central pedestrian zone. Several subway stations were closed in the area.
After the sensational Pride parade in Istanbul in 2014 with over 100,000 participants, the event had always been officially banned by Turkish authorities for security reasons in recent years.
Although homosexuality is not punishable in Muslim-majority Turkey, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan repeatedly rails against gays, lesbians and trans people.