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BRUSSELS, September 21 – The
Deputy Governor of Ankara, Selahattin Ekremoglu, is calling for an LGBT
group to be closed down, it emerged today. Ekremoglu claimed last week that
the group operated “against the laws and morality rules” and should be
closed down.
ILGA-Europe reports that on July
15, Kaos GL (Gay and Lesbian Cultural Research and Solidarity Organisation),
the leading Turkish LGBT group which was founded in 1994, applied for
non-government organisation (NGO) status with the Ministry of the Interior.
The Ministry approved the
application and then forwarded it to its local branch in Ankara which
operates under the Mayor.
However, Ekremoglu came out with a
statement referring to the Articles 56 and 4721 of the Turkish Civil Code
prohibiting establishment of an organisation “that is against the laws and
morality rules" and authorised a court procedure at the Principal Registry
to close down the Kaos GL.
“We are seriously concerned about
the statement by the deputy governor of Ankara and the beginning of the
process to close down the Turkish LGBT organisation,” commented Patricia
Prendiville, the executive director of ILGA-Europe.
“Earlier this year we already
witnessed attempts by various state and city authorities in Europe to
restrict the right of LGBT people to assembly. However in all cases the
bans were overturned by the courts and declared as discriminatory violation
of the right to assembly and demonstration.
“We hope that Turkey will not
become yet another country attempting to limit LGBT people’s rights to
assembly. We would like to remind the Turkish authorities about their
obligation to provide freedom of association under their own constitution as
well as under the European Convention on Human Rights and accession
negotiation process with the European Union,” she added.
The remarks by Ekremoglu are seen by
many as homophobic. Article 33 of the Turkish Constitution provides that
‘everyone has the right to form associations, or become a member of an
association’.
Article 12 of the Charter of
Fundamental Rights of the European Union provides that everyone has the
right ‘to freedom of association at all levels, in particular in political,
trade union and civil matters’.
With Members of the European
Parliament getting increasingly concerned about civil rights – and
particularly gay rights, the move in Turkey, if carried out, could affect
the country’s accession negotiation with the EU.
LINKS
Kaos GL English language website
ILGA-Europe website
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