Amnesty International condemns the baseless and arbitrary banning for the sixth consecutive year of Istanbul Pride in clear violation of the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and expression and the use of unnecessary and excessive force on Pride participants on Saturday 26 June in the central district of Beyoğlu. The allegations of torture or other ill-treatment must be promptly, independently and impartially investigated and state officials found to have been responsible must be brought to justice in fair trials. Amnesty International calls on the Turkish authorities to end the violation of the right to peaceful assembly and expression of LGBTI people and their allies.
