24/07/2025 | Writer: Kaos GL
Amnesty International has launched an urgent action campaign calling for the release of Hivda Selen, Sinem Çelebi, and Doğan Nur, who were arrested on the grounds that they "might have participated" in the Istanbul LGBTI+ Pride March.
The organization is demanding the immediate release of the three activists, who were arbitrarily detained on the day of this year’s Istanbul LGBTI+ Pride March—a march that was once again blocked by police violence.
“Activists Hivda Selen, Sinem Çelebi and Doğan Nur were arbitrarily detained on the day of the Istanbul LGBTI+ Pride march and have been held in pre-trial detention since 30 June on baseless charges related to peaceful assembly. Their trial’s first hearing is set for 8 August at Istanbul Criminal Court of First Instance No. 51. This case marks an alarming escalation in the criminalization of LGBTI+ expression and peaceful assembly in Türkiye. They must be immediately released, and all charges dropped. No one should be detained and prosecuted simply for exercising their right to peaceful assembly”, Amnesty stated, calling for all three to be released.
Amnesty International has also prepared a letter addressed to the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office as part of the campaign. The letter includes the following message:
“I am writing to express deep concern over the arbitrary detention of activists Hivda Selen, Sinem Çelebi and Doğan Nur, who remain in pre-trial detention following the Istanbul LGBTI+ Pride march on 29 June. The authorities’ targeting of these three activists, highlights the ongoing repression of LGBTI+ activism. According to human rights observers, including Amnesty International, around 20 activists peacefully gathered on a residential street in Ortaköy. Before they could finish reading their press statement, police arrived, chased them, and arbitrarily detained activists and journalists, without making an announcement for dispersal. At least 53 people were detained from different parts of the city that day. Hivda Selen, Sinem Çelebi and Doğan Nur were not present at the march. They were arrested elsewhere, questioned about their participation in Istanbul LGBTI+ Pride, accused of failure to disperse despite warning and remanded in pre-trial detention. Amnesty International has reviewed the charges and found no ground for prosecution. Holding individuals without a clear legal basis violates Türkiye’s own laws and its international human rights obligations. I urge you to ensure that Hivda Selen, Sinem Çelebi, and Doğan Nur are released immediately and unconditionally and the charges against them, and all those targeted for exercising their right to peaceful assembly, are dropped.”
Tags: human rights
