Istanbul Pride:A Shameful Event
In the Name of Allah---the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful. Introduction Istanbul Pride is an annual LGBTQ+ pride event held in Istanbul, Turkey . It began in 2003 and was the first Pride march in a Muslim-majority country. Initially, it was a relatively small event, but over the years, it grew significantly, attracting thousands of participants. 1. History of Istanbul Pride Istanbul Pride began in 2003 with a small group of activists marching in Taksim Square , Istanbul’s central district. Over the years, it gained momentum, and by 2014 , it became one of the largest LGBTQ+ events in the Muslim world, attracting more than 100,000 participants . However, after the 2013 Gezi Park protests , the Turkish government began cracking down on large-scale demonstrations. Since 2015, authorities have repeatedly banned Istanbul Pride, citing security concerns, public order, and religious sensitivities. 2. Government B...