STORY: Turkish police detained at least 30 people in central Istanbul on Sunday (June 29) as they tried to take part in a Pride March, which authorities had banned as part of a years-long clampdown on LGBTQ+ events, an opposition politician said.

Footage obtained by Reuters showed police scuffling with a group of activists holding rainbow flags in the city centre before rounding them up and loading them into police vans.

Kezban Konukcu, a lawmaker from the pro-Kurdish DEM Party who attended the march, told Reuters that at least 30 people had been taken into custody.

Police did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The Istanbul governor's office had earlier deemed the march unlawful and said groups promoting the event were operating "illegally".

Authorities have banned Pride marches in Turkey’s largest city since 2015, citing public safety and security concerns.

President Tayyip Erdogan's Islamist-rooted AK Party has adopted increasingly harsh rhetoric against the LGBTQ+ community over the past decade.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

SHOWS: ISTANBUL, TURKEY (JUNE 29, 2025) (VIDEO OBTAINED BY REUTERS - Access All)

1. VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS READING STATEMENT

2. PROTESTERS RUNNING

3. RIOT POLICE CHASING

4. POLICE DETAINING PROTESTERS

5. (SOUNDBITE) (Turkish) PEOPLE'S EQUALITY AND DEMOCRACY PARTY MEMBER KEZBAN KONUKCU SAYING:

"The palace regime(Turkish presidency) will not continue their rule by ignoring and demonizing LBGT+ community"

6. DETAINED PROTESTERS NEAR POLICE VAN (SHOT IN PORTRAIT)