We express our full solidarity with the Turkish LGBTQIA+ community and all participants in the Pride events following the attacks on Pride marches in İzmir and Istanbul, Ankara Pride, and Kuşadası, including the bans imposed on the events, the security interventions against peaceful Pride activities, and the resulting arrests of participants, and investigating the lawyers who defend the detained marchers.
These events represent a space for celebrating diversity, human dignity, and the right of individuals to exist safely and to be recognized equally within their communities. Any restriction of these spaces undermines the values of freedom and equality that form the foundation of inclusive societies and weakens the role of civil society in promoting a culture of coexistence and mutual respect.
We reaffirm that protecting the fundamental rights and freedoms of all individuals, including the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly, is a shared responsibility of governments and societies alike. We express our full solidarity with the LGBTQIA+ community in Turkey and emphasize the importance of strengthening community dialogue and enhancing cooperation among civil society organizations across the region to protect the values of justice and human dignity and to ensure a safe environment for the peaceful expression of identity and belonging.
We believe that cross-border solidarity is one of the most powerful tools for confronting human rights challenges and that supporting voices calling for freedom and equality anywhere is a commitment to our shared universal human values.
Guardians of Equality Movement (GEM)
