LGBT activists in Istanbul took to the streets on Sunday to protest discrimination against transgender people, despite officials banning the Trans Pride Parade over fears it would threaten family values, dpa and Agerpres reported.

In Istanbul, several people were detained at a march in support of transgender peoplePhoto: Emrah Gurel/AP/Profimedia

However, the police managed to prevent the demonstration of the participants of the parade in the central Taksim Square of Istanbul with the help of large-scale roadblocks.

The operation of the metro, which could take the protesters to Taksim Square, was also disrupted.

According to the Kaos GL activist association, the police made “attacks” on the participants of the demonstration.

Istanbul Governor Davut Gül had already announced on Twitter on Friday that he would not allow any event to “endanger our institution of the family”.

Other cities in Turkey have also banned pride marches and events held around the world every year in June that serve, among other things, to raise the visibility of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) people.

Turkish authorities have banned such events in previous years as well. The Turkish government, under the leadership of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, has repeatedly expressed strong anti-LGBTQ sentiments.