02/04/2023 | Writer: Selma Koçak
According to the report published by Kaos GL, hate rallies were held in 15 provinces under the protection of the state, and at least 571 LGBTI+ activists were detained in 2022. Torture, ill-treatment, detention, bans, looting and lawsuits were what LGBTI+s were subjected to.
Kaos GL Association has just published LGBTI+ Human Rights Report of 2022. The report, published with the headline “Let’s March on to Freedom” is a part of human rights monitoring studies has been carried out by the association since 2007.
The report, which is prepared through the violation of rights that reflected in the press and the applications received by Kaos GL Association and non-governmental organizations, reveals the situation of LGBTI+ rights in 2022.
The report was declared to the public today (March 29) with a meeting held at Human Rights Association (İHD) İstanbul Branch. Lawyer Kerem Dikmen, writer of the report and Defne Güzel, Human Rights Monitoring Expert, evaluated the year 2022 and the findings of the report.
Summary of 2022: Free-fall goes on
According to the report, which also considers the last decade of Turkey, 2022 was a year, in which the free-fall went on in terms of LGBTI+ rights. Physical violence accompanying detentions by police attack during peaceful rallies were the most prominent considering the number of violations.
According to the findings of the report, the policy regarding the “elimination of LGBTI+s from the public sphere” adopted by the government agencies and authorities, was the be-all and end-all. Lawyer Kerem Dikem briefed about it during the meeting as follows:
“As it has been noticed, state violence against LGBTI+s was reflected in detentions, and police attack against a peaceful protest tipped the balance in 557 of the detentions. In addition we have to state that there are people who were taken into custody in house raids on the grounds of prostitution, although it is not defined as a criminal act. Physical violence by public officials and third parties ranked third. Judicial harassment has been used as a method of violation for 91 LGBTI+s.”
Findings of the report
Some remarkable findings of the report are as follows:
*LGBTI+s spent 37 days in the courthouse hallways in 2022. They were at courthouses sometimes for monitoring criminal cases as a complainant, sometimes for following administrative proceedings and sometimes for being in solidarity within the context of the lawsuits against associations working for LGBTI+ rights, just like Tarlabaşı Community Center case.
*LGBTI+ rights were extensively violated by censorship and bans from right to assembly to a performance, from a book to a symbol, from concerts to broadcasting.
*Right to integrity of the person was violated particularly during the mass arrests made by using violence against protestors.
*The high number of detentions also led to intense violation of right to freedom and security.
*Criminal acts against LGBTI+s from third parties remained unpunished.
*Violations of freedom of expression revealed mostly via bans on special events, followed by law enforcement intervention in meetings and demonstrations.
*At least 7 general prohibition decision were made by governorships and district governorships. On the other side, hate rallies targeting LGBTI+s, were held in 15 provinces, under the wing of the state.
*The highest number of violations were experienced in June due to ban on pride weeks and increased violence by law enforcement.
*Hate speech was disseminated by elected or appointed senior public officials themselves.
* Housing right went on to be violated frequently particularly in terms of sex workers working at home.
*Individual or organized acts of looting against LGBTI+s, caused violation of right to property.
*Problems faced by trans people, who have not legally completed transition yet, in public transportation systems in Ankara and İstanbul, remained unsolved.
*Executions practices, carried out under color of protecting LGBTI+s from the other prisoners and convicts and obliged LGBTI+s to keep in one-person cells and isolation, went on being the prime mover of the systematic ill-treatment in prisons in 2022 as well.
*Events planned by trade unions under the theme of gender were banned. And universities also discriminated against LGBTI+s by putting ban on extra-academic activities which form the essential part of education.
Violation in all categories
Emphasizing that LGBTI+s are exposed to violation of rights in all categories lawyer Kerem Dikmen said: “The Presidency and the President, as the head of executive, don’t fulfill their responsibilities to ensure LGBTI+s access to human rights.”
It is revealed that the judicial review mechanisms are dysfunctional and the individual application mechanism at the Constitutional Court is ineffective for LGBTI+s within the scope of the report and Board of Advertisement, Board for the Protection of Minors from Sexually Explicit Materials, the Radio and Television Supreme Council and the Press Advertisement Institution were listed as executive instruments effectively used for the elimination of LGBTI+s from public life.
“Oppressions could not deter LGBTI+s”
Emphasizing that Human Rights and Equality Institution of Türkiye (TİHEK) and Ombudsman Institution (KDK) “discuss a counter-narrative considering LGBTI+ existence and LGBTI+ rights out of fundamental rights under the guise of human rights mechanisms”, it is evaluated that despite all violations LGBTI+s are “marching towards freedom” within the conclusion part of the report.
“The report regarding the violation of rights against LGBTI+s, is the human rights report and summary of Turkey. When we examine it in comparison with the violation reports of previous years it is seen a deep human rights crisis is hanging over in Turkey, the problems are gradually increasing, and surely LGBTI+ identity is among the main victimized identities in Turkey. However the increase in violations has not prevent LGBTI+ movement mobilizing massively. Moreover, this mass mobilization process goes on by including other social opposition parties. The legitimate insistence and stubbornness of LGBTI+s on their rights is what really enrages centers for hate speech. On the other side, even the participation in hate rallies held in the most conservative provinces of Turkey could not rise above a certain level. To sum up, oppressions could not deter LGBTI+s.”
Click here to read the report in Turkish.
About the report
The report, which was acquired by transferring news, that came to Kaos GL’s attention during monitoring activity or took place in the daily bulletins of news agencies followed, to database constituted just for reporting, is the most comprehensive study in the field of LGBTI+s human rights in Turkey.
Monitoring and reporting LGBTI+s’ human rights since 2007 Kaos GL, enrich the report thanks to consultancy service provided by it, or the information gained from relations with non-governmental organizations, personal and professional relationships, besides the data reflected in the press. One of the main sources of the report is KaosGL.org online newspaper that performs rights-based journalism.
Kaos GL LGBTI+ Human Rights Report is acquired by transferring information obtained as a result of the research to a database developed on the grounds of HURIDOCS (Human Rights Information and Documentation Systems) created in 1982.
Lawyer Kerem Dikmen wrote the report which was published with the headline “Let’s March on to Freedom”. And the data entry was made by Defne Güzel. The cover photo of the report belongs to Hayri Tunç.
Tags: human rights
