TÜRKIYE: “ANOTHER DARK DAY” AS POLICE USE EXCESSIVE FORCE AND FIRE PEPPER BALLS ON PRIDE MARCHERS

Police violently broke up a student-organised Pride march at the Middle East Technical University (METU) campus in Ankara

Reacting to the news that police violently broke up a student-organised Pride march at the Middle East Technical University (METU) campus in Ankara, Türkiye’s capital, arresting some students after dragging them on the ground, Nils Muižnieks, Amnesty International’s Europe Director said:

“Scenes of peaceful Pride marchers on the METU campus being confronted with police using unnecessary and excessive force, including pepper balls, are deeply disturbing, particularly as this is a repeat of the brutality we saw here three years ago.

“It is a dark day when university authorities notify the police to break up students who are simply marching peacefully for their rights to dignity and equality. All those detained by police solely for exercising their right to peaceful assembly must be immediately and unconditionally released.”