08/08/2025 | Writer: Kaos GL
The court has ordered the release of Sinem Çelebi and Hivda Selen, who were arrested at the Istanbul LGBTI+ Pride March due to the “possibility of their participation.” While observer attendance at the hearing was prevented, police detained a person wearing a T-shirt with the word “Lesbian” for about an hour.
On June 29, during the 23rd Istanbul Pride March held under the theme “Persistence in Life,” 53 people were detained. Three people were arrested; among the arrested activists, Doğan Nur was released on July 30.
Today, the hearing of Sinem Çelebi and Hivda Selen, who were arrested during the march, and those who objected to judicial control orders, was held at Istanbul Courthouse in Çağlayan.
Observers and activists were not allowed into the courtroom
At the hearing held at the 51st Criminal Court of First Instance of Istanbul, the participation of LGBTI+ activists and lawyers was prevented. Only the five defendants, two of whom are in custody, their three lawyers each, bar association observers, and consular representatives were admitted into the courtroom. LGBTI+ activists, other lawyers, journalists, and independent observers were prevented from following the hearing.Among those barred from attending the hearing was Lawyer Hayriye Kara from Kaos GL, who had been detained on the day of the march.
A person wearing a T-shirt with “Lesbian” written on it was detained
A person who wanted to attend the hearing was detained by the police because their T-shirt had the word “lesbian” written on it. The detained person was released an hour later.
Activists, journalists, and lawyers detained during the march are charged with “participating in unlawful meetings and demonstrations without arms and failing to disperse despite warning.”
According to the Oppressed Law Office, during the hearing, the lawyers’ immediate acquittal requests were rejected. The justification cited was “the scope of the file and the evidence to be collected, the necessity to evaluate new evidence.”
“It is hate crimes that should be prosecuted here”
After the indictment was read, the defendants began their statements. In her defense, Hivda Selen, who has been in custody for 40 days, said:“I was detained from the café where I was sitting with a false report prepared by the police. I have been in detention for 40 days. The ban on Pride March, as well as the detention of me and others in various ways, is a hate crime. Because the LGBTI+ struggle and the Pride March are rights, they are legitimate. In this city, Hande Kader was burned to death—this was also a hate crime. It is hate crimes that should be prosecuted here. If I had been able to participate, I would not have committed any crime. The government constantly produces rhetoric that issues a decree for the killing of LGBTI+ people. The banning of the march and our detention are the legalized form of this attack. I object to this hatred and violence.”
“The real crime is seeing LGBTI+ people as a threat”
Sinem Çelebi said:“I was detained while walking with my friend. After being kept waiting for a long time under the pretext of an identity check, we were taken to the police vehicle with reverse handcuffs and physical assault and brought to the police station. I could not attend the Pride March. But I have attended previous marches. Participating in Pride March is not a crime. In this country, hate politics systematically produce violence and crime. Being on the streets against these policies, defending LGBTI+ people, should not be a crime. The real crime is seeing LGBTI+ people as a threat, killing them, and constantly producing hate politics and discourse. We are imprisoned because we oppose this situation. And this detention is political.”
“Since my Turkish was not that good, I didn’t understand what was happening”
A German national academic who was detained said in their defense:
“I had come to Turkey to learn Turkish. On the day of the incident, I had my Turkish course homework in my bag. I went to Taksim to sit in a café. Taksim was completely closed. There were many police officers. I thought I should go to Ortaköy as it had been recommended before. I took a taxi, which dropped me off on the main street within walking distance of the café. On the map, as I was heading toward the café, I saw heavily armed, armored police. I thought I couldn’t pass through here, so I turned around to leave. Then someone in a white polo shirt without a uniform stopped me and said, ‘You can’t go further.’ Other police came, and since my Turkish was not that good, I didn’t understand what was happening. I was stuck between police shields. I couldn’t move. I could hear other people shouting. I had no knowledge of this protest. I just wanted to go to the café to do my homework. At that moment, there was actually no protest going on there. Later, I was detained and taken to the police station. There was no announcement. In fact, when I saw the police, I had already wanted to walk away. No police officer spoke to me.”
“Demonstrations are a legal right, and LGBTI+ people also have this right”
Then, Doğan Nur, who was released on July 30, spoke:
“I was stopped and detained with reverse handcuff torture while walking with my friend. I was arrested for a protest I did not attend. I said that this situation was unconstitutional. The police said, ‘Then you can appeal to the constitution.’ But demonstrations are a legal right. LGBTI+ people also have this right. This right is being taken away by the mentality that sees the LGBTI+ struggle as a crime and with hate speech. This mentality is against equality. I was released after 30 days of captivity, but my friends’ detention continues. This shows that legal principles are being abandoned, and there is no legal certainty.”
The hearing continued with the lawyers’ statements. Lawyers demanded the removal of detention and judicial control orders in a case where even the conditions for violating Law No. 2911 had not been met. They emphasized that Pride March and all demonstrations and press statements are rights.
The lawyers’ requests to submit reports prepared by human rights organizations and footage from the day of the march were rejected on the grounds that “physical documents were not accepted.”
After the defenses and objections, a recess was given for the prosecutor’s opinion. The prosecutor requested the continuation of detention. The court ruled for the release of Hivda and Sinem and the removal of judicial controls for the other defendants. The case was adjourned to December 24.
Tags: human rights, family, lgbti, lezbiyen, gey
