There had already been concerns over the security of the planned marches after last weekend’s massacre at a gay nightclub in Florida of 49 people by a gunman who had expressed sympathy for a variety of Islamist militant groups. While homosexuality is not a crime in Turkey, unlike in many other Muslim countries, homophobia remains widespread.Ĭritics say President Tayyip Erdogan and the Islamist-rooted AK Party he founded have shown little interest in expanding rights for minorities, gays and women, and are intolerant of dissent. We’re not responsible for what will happen after this point,” he said, citing a Turkish proverb: “If you’re not taught by experience, you’re taught by a beating.” “Degenerates will not be allowed to carry out their fantasies on this land. We will take any risks, we will directly prevent the march,” the group’s Istanbul provincial head, Kursat Mican, told journalists on Wednesday. Either do what is needed or we will do it. “To our state officials: do not make us deal with this.
