Politics

Police in Turkey break up protest against arrests of pro-LGBT students

Istanbul, Feb 2 (efe-epa).- Turkish riot police broke up a rally in Istanbul on Tuesday denouncing the arrests of 50 university students.

The detentions come after a month of protests against the new, government-appointed rector of Bogazici University and the recent arrests of four students for alleged insults to Islam in an artwork that featured pro-LGBT symbols with an image of the Kaaba in Meccah, the holiest site in Islam.

Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu branded the detainees “LGBT perverts”, saying on Twitter that would “show no tolerance” for those who insult the Kaaba and occupy the rectorate building, referring to the protests.

On Monday, Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan — who appointed the rector — criticized the LGBT movement, who he said “commit acts of vandalism.”

“We will carry our young people to the future, not as the LGBT youth, but as the youth that existed in our nation’s glorious past.” EFE-EPA

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