US concerned over prevention of Istanbul Pride, says US envoy on LGBTIs

The U.S. State Department's first-ever Special Envoy for the Human Rights of LGBTI (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex) people, Randy Berry, has expressed the U.S.'s concern over the police crackdown on the annual Pride March in Istanbul on June 28. 

"Clearly, we were concerned earlier this summer when the Istanbul Pride march was not allowed to proceed. As we would be with any instance in which a peaceful march or protest was not allowed to exercise the right of freedom of assembly and freedom of speech," Berry told daily Hürriyet in an interview, adding that he had spoken about the issue with the parties he met in Turkey.

Berry said he had held meetings with members of civil society organizations, senior municipal and government representatives, and business leaders in Ankara and Istanbul. 

"We've also had a very good conversation with representatives of the LGTBI community in Turkey, on some of the particular successes or challenges they have tended to face. It has been very instructive to me," he said, adding that these meetings would help inform the U.S.'s policy on the issue. 

"It helps inform our engagement with governments. My meetings were really helpful in shaping that understanding," Berry said, describing his contacts with the Ankara government as "constructive" and "very open." 

"I come away from Turkey hopeful overall that we will see progress in the discussion," he said. 

Responding to a question on how important it is to have a gay pride march in a Muslim-majority country like Turkey, Berry said the police suppression of this year's march on June 30 marked "something clearly different," rolling back the "remarkable progression and wonderful expressions of pride through freedom of...