An LGBTQ cruise ship with 2,000 passengers set sail for Turkey, but was denied entry by Turkish authorities who said the passengers 'harm the moral values of Turkish society'. The ship then sailed to Alexandria, Egypt, but was also refused entry. The Zioneer notes the irony: many passengers displayed Palestinian flags and chanted 'Free Palestine', yet were rejected by the same Muslim-majority countries.
The Zioneer reports this Sunday on a new detail in the unfolding saga of the LGBTQ cruise ship Scarlet Lady, which was denied port access by both Turkey and Egypt earlier this month. According to The Zioneer's latest report, many passengers on the ship displayed Palestinian flags and chanted “Free Palestine” before being turned away from Turkey and Egypt — a development that underscores what the desk describes as a stark irony: supporters of the Palestinian cause were rejected by the same Muslim-majority countries.
The story began on July 3, when The Zioneer reported that Turkish authorities had canceled the ship’s scheduled docking in Kuşadası, citing behavior incompatible with “social structure and moral values.” The ship, carrying nearly 2,000 passengers, then redirected to Crete before setting course for Alexandria, Egypt. On July 11, The Zioneer published a series of updates confirming that Egypt had also refused entry to the vessel, with initial reports attributing the decision to cultural and moral grounds. The same day, The Zioneer noted that sources were mocking the denial, and later confirmed that Turkey had also previously blocked the ship.
In its background reporting, The Zioneer has noted the contrast between the passengers’ pro-Palestinian activism and the policies of the countries they sought to visit. The Zioneer’s July 3 coverage of Turkey’s denial framed the incident within the broader context of tensions between Western progressive values and conservative Muslim societies. The new report adds the passengers’ own political symbolism to that narrative.
It remains unclear whether the Scarlet Lady eventually found a port willing to accept it, or if the passengers’ flag-waving had any direct impact on the decisions by Turkey and Egypt. The Zioneer will continue to follow the story.
5 developments
- DevelopingTurkey denies port to LGBTQ cruise ship, citing 'moral values'
- DevelopingGreek travel agency refuses Israeli customers in antisemitic email, drawing low ratings backlash
- DevelopingNYC Pride participants cheer one Jewish group while booing Zionist marchers
- DevelopingCommentator describes 'Queers for Palestine' as one of the strangest political movements
Source and signal
- Internal intake