25/07/2025 | Writer: Oğulcan Özgenç
36 people were prosecuted for participating in the 11th Trans Pride March. In the indictment, the fact that the individuals had previously attended LGBTQ+ events was considered as criminal evidence. The first hearing is on March 10, 2026.
Photo: Sendika.org
This year, on June 22, 36 people were prosecuted on the grounds of “violating the Law on Assemblies and Demonstrations” for participating in the 11th Trans Pride March held in Istanbul with the theme “Revolt.”
In the indictment prepared by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office, the fact that the accused had previously attended LGBTQ+ events and the allegation that they “led the actions” were considered as criminal evidence. The indictment included the following statement:
“As part of the security measures, while foot patrol duty was being carried out around 13:30 on Moda Street in the Caferağa Neighborhood, it was observed that one of two female individuals walking side by side on the sidewalk had previously participated in open/closed area actions and topics with LGBTQ+ content during the monitoring of matters concerning our department, and had led these actions...”
In addition, the phone messages of the detained individuals on the day of the march were also cited as grounds for the investigation.
Banner reading ‘Sırrı Süreyya Önder is here’ considered as criminal evidence
In addition, the indictment considered carrying banners with the following phrases as criminal evidence: “I love you with the resistance of kissing you, with the revolution of love,” “You are someone from within my struggle, my love, I love you,” “This is my identity, not your ideological apparatus,” “The year of struggle is with the palace, not with LGBTQ+,” “Sırrı Süreyya ÖNDER is here,” “Not the object of capitalism but the subject of revolution,” “None of our dignity is real until all of us are free,” and “I'm not here to fit into your world I'm here to fight for mine.”
It was also alleged in the indictment that individuals had covered their faces with masks or similar items to avoid being recognized.
Case files of detained lawyers and children separated
On the day of the march, 42 people were detained under torture. Among those detained were lawyers and children. The case files of 3 lawyers, 3 children, and 4 people detained in Beyazıt were separated from the main case. No information has yet been obtained regarding whether lawsuits have been filed against these individuals, but in the prosecutor’s indictment, the detained children were referred to as “children dragged into crime.”
The first hearing will be held on March 10, 2026, at 10:30 a.m. at the Istanbul Anatolian Courthouse.
Trans Pride Week Committee: “We are stronger than your transphobic law”
The Trans Pride Week Committee stated the following on social media:
“Even though you infiltrated the march route and searched for us on nearly every street of Acıbadem, how did we slip through the cracks? How did we find each other again in our smiles and come together? That is exactly what empowers us, and we are not afraid of you. We are waiting for everyone to support the case. Neither our press statements, nor our Trans Pride Marches, nor our existence is a crime. We are stronger than your transphobic law, your guards, your police, your bans — you cannot defeat us. It’s not easy. We stand by our friends who are on trial.”
Tags: human rights, trans
