Urgent Action: Ensure pride marches can safely take place

On 14 June the governorate of Izmir banned all Pride events, followed by the governorate of Antalya the next day. Pride events in other cities have been prevented or are also at imminent risk of being banned, including in Istanbul, where Pride is at risk for the fifth year in a row. This clampdown on the LGBTI community in Turkey has been continuing this year despite this Pride season being the first one after the end of Turkey’s state of emergency in July 2018. The authorities must lift these unlawful bans and ensure that all Pride events are allowed to safely take place. They must protect the right to peaceful assembly without discrimination.

Take action.

PLEASE SEND APPEALS BEFORE 29 JULY 2019

Please write urgently in your own words or using the template letter included in English or Turkish to:

Minister of Interior 

Süleyman Soylu

Devlet Mahallesi

T.C. İçişleri Bakanlığı 

06580 Çankaya/Ankara

Turkey

bakanlik.musavirligi@icisleri.gov.tr

Salutation: Dear Minister

Also send copies to diplomatic representatives accredited to your country.

His Excellency Mr Ümİt YalÇin, Embassy of the Republic of Turkey 43 Belgrave Square SW1X 8PA 020 7393 0202 Fax 020 7393 0066 embassy.london@mfa.gov.tr london.emb.mfa.gov.tr

Please check with your section before sending appeals after the above date.