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Lady Gaga condemns Turkey’s clampdown on gay rights

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Pop star Lady Gaga and a European rights official have condemned the attacks on Istanbul’s gay pride rally after security forces doused demonstrators with water cannon and tear gas.

Gay rights protesters dispersed after gathering at the city’s Taksim Square, an unusual flare-up as previous rallies had taken place without interference.

Organisers said the Turkish government only barred them from Taksim at the last minute, saying they could not gather there during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

The Istanbul Governor’s office said no permission was sought for the rally and security forces acted proportionately.

A message posted to Lady Gaga’s Twitter account urged Turkish authorities to “celebrate both Ramadan and Pride in PEACE”.

The Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Nils Muiznieks, also condemned the violence.

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