In a gesture that reaffirms the commitment to human rights at a global level, Jaume Collboni, mayor of Barcelona, has concluded his visit to Istanbul with a significant meeting with activists from the LGTBIQ+ community. This meeting is not a mere protocol; Its purpose is to provide clear and forceful support to a group that faces worrying repression and violation of rights in Türkiye.
A Panorama of Challenges and Resistance
During his stay, Collboni had the opportunity to learn first-hand about the obstacles faced by various organizations that fight for the rights of the LGTBIQ+ community, including the Istanbul Pride Committee and BATOÇA (Association for Social Studies of Peace). The situation in Turkey is alarming: the country is ranked 47th out of 49 European nations on the Rainbow Map 2025 when it comes to LGTBIQ+ rights, surpassing only Russia and Azerbaijan. Since 2015, Pride marches have been banned, and unfortunately, community members are subject to harassment and police arrests.
What implications does this reality have for the daily lives of thousands of people? How does the lack of institutional support affect the mental health and well-being of activists who risk so much to defend their rights? It is crucial to reflect on these questions.
A Continued Commitment to Democracy and Diversity
This meeting in Istanbul is not an isolated event on the Barcelona mayor’s agenda. Already in June, Collboni attended the ‘Pride Freedom Celebration’ in Budapest, a demonstration in defense of LGTBIQ+ rights that this year celebrates its thirtieth anniversary. As in Türkiye, this march was banned by the Hungarian Government of Viktor Orbán. Both in Budapest and now in Istanbul, the mayor wanted to make clear Barcelona’s unwavering commitment to the defense of fundamental rights, democracy and European values.
Will this international support be able to generate a significant change in the policies of these countries? Will gestures of solidarity be able to cross political barriers and reach those who need it most?
