Turkish police detain over 150 pro-LGBTQ protesters in Istanbul

Turkish police detained at least 150 pro‑LGBTQ protesters in Istanbul on Tuesday, 15 September, as participants gathered to denounce a nationwide crackdown on the LGBTQ community. The arrests occurred during a public demonstration that sought to highlight recent legal and police actions targeting LGBTQ individuals and organizations across the country.

Authorities said the detentions were carried out to maintain public order, while human‑rights groups have condemned the broader suppression as part of an escalating pattern of arrests, venue closures and restrictive legislation aimed at curbing LGBTQ activism. The incident adds to growing domestic and international scrutiny of Turkey’s approach to minority rights, with officials indicating that investigations into the detained demonstrators will proceed under existing public‑order statutes.