YEREVAN, JUNE 29, ARMENPRESS. Turkish riot police fired water cannons, rubber pellets and teargas as a gay pride parade in Istanbul descended into violence on June 28. As Armenpress reports citing “Daily Mail”, the police unleashed jets of water in a bid to disperse thousands of marchers in the centre of the city. Crowds fled from the scene as teargas filled the air during chaotic scenes in the city during what was meant to be a peaceful march. Hundreds of marchers were chased away from Taksim Square after a police vehicle fired several water cannons. Police began to forcefully break up the crowd, with some officers firing rubber pellets into the crowd.

Before the march, police closed off access to Taksim Square. 
This is the 13th edition of the Gay Pride parade in Turkey, which has been held in the past without major incident. The parade has been held in Istanbul in previous years, leading some to dub it the largest gay pride event in the Muslim world.

However, this year the timing of the parade coincides with the holy month of Ramadan, something that could cause conservative Muslims to bristle. Governor of Istanbul Province Vasip Şahin mentioned that it is impossible to hold such a march during the month of Ramadan.