The Istanbul governor's office has banned a gay pride parade planned for Sunday on the city's popular Istiklal Avenue, citing concern for the "security of citizens and tourists" and "public order."
A "very serious reaction" on social media to the planned march also played a role in the decision, the office said Saturday.
Despite threats from far-right groups, Turkish LGBTQ activists vowed to push ahead with plans for a "Pride Parade" in Istanbul this Sunday.
Turkey is under a strict state of emergency, introduced after a failed coup in July last year that gives local authorities a mandate to ban demonstrations they deem risky.
A far-right group called the Alperen Hearths, linked to an ultra-nationalist political party, threatened last week that they would prevent the planned parade from taking place even if the government allowed it.
The planned parade coincides with the Eid al-Fitr holiday that marks the end of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.
Istanbul's gay pride parades took place for more than a decade until 2015, when police broke up the march using tear gas and water cannon. The march was banned by the governor's office last year as well for security reasons.
Turkey, governed by the Islamist-rooted Justice and Development Party (AKP), is officially a secular state but is almost entirely Muslim. Homosexuality is not banned, but allegations of discrimination against gays have been reported.
