Turkey’s capital, Ankara, has banned all gay, lesbian, bisexual, trans and intersex rights groups from holding events in the city.
According to the Ankara governor’s office, the ban has been imposed to protect “public security”.
The governor’s office claims that events such as LGBTI film screenings, theatre shows and exhibitions can cause animosity between different groups.
The restrictions came into effect on Saturday and will last for an “indefinite” amount of time.
The governor’s office warned that the events could provoke people to take action against the groups due to “certain social sensitivities.”
Although, homosexuality is not a crime in Turkey, according to rights activists, LGBTI people face discrimination, stigma and widespread hostility.
Ankara authorities had previously banned a German gay film festival on Wednesday. The reason behind the cancellation was cited as to "protect public safety" and minimise "terrorism risks".
The bans only serve to deepen concern about civil liberties under President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Under his rule more and more LGBTI cultural events have been banned in order to preserve what authorities describe as “public morality”.
Gay Pride parades have been banned in Istanbul for the last three years due to “security risks” and last week Mr Erdogan condemned the Republican’s People’s Party for planning to introduce a “gay quota” for employees in local governments.
He accused the party of “declaring a war” against the people’s values.
LGBTI organisations Pink Life and Kaos GL, responded to the ban in a statement.
They said: “We will follow legal proceedings on the governor’s illegal, discriminatory and arbitrary ban. There can be no legitimate or legal grounds for such a wholesale ban that touches the core of rights.
“In an omnibus ban with a very wide scope, we are facing a situation that is vague, open to interpretation and rights violations, criminalizing LGBTI existence.”
