Watch Turkish police use water cannons and tear gas on Pride marchers in Istanbul

Istanbul Pride Parade crushed by riot police – reasons unclear why

Istanbul’s annual Pride march was marred by police intervention using water cannons, rubber bullets and tear gas.

Istanbul’s annual Pride march yesterday was marred by police intervention using water cannons, rubber bullets and tear gas.

Reasons for the intervention remain unclear but local news suggests it was cancelled by the Istanbul Governor’s Office. This year’s march coincides with the holy month of Ramadan and there were concerns of a conservative Muslim backlash.

Days after the US Supreme Court decision to legalise gay marriage in all American states, the scenes in Istanbul demonstrate LGBT issues are not widely acknowledged across the world.

Unlike other Muslim countries, homosexuality is not a crime in Turkey but it is evident from the footage that homophobia still exists.

Eye witness accounts of the intervention in Taksim Square describe the police as intent on stopping the march. Their intent is visible from the footage below where one parade attendee was sent cartwheeling to the ground by a police water cannon.