27/10/2022 | Writer: Yıldız Tar
A lawsuit was brought against eight people, who were taken into custody during Eskişehir Pride March. Taking photographs and chanting slogans were considered “criminal evidence” in the bill of indictment.
A lawsuit was brought against eight people, who were taken into custody during Eskişehir Pride March. Following the Pride March which was held on July 3 and was exposed to police attack, Eskişehir Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office demanded the prosecution of eight people on the grounds that they violated Law no 2911 on Meetings and Demonstrations.
The first trial of the case is going to be heard at the 4th Penal Court of First Instance in Eskişehir, on February 16th, 2023, at 09.30 am.
Rainbow flags took part in the bill of the indictment as “cloth pieces smacking of / resembling LGBT colors”. Videotaping the demonstration with a camera by a person, against whom a lawsuit was filed, was included in the bill of the indictment as “criminal evidence”. “Chanting slogans” and “carrying LGBTI flags” are among the other “criminal evidence” included in the indictment.
What happened at Eskişehir Pride March?
Eskişehir Pride Week events, which were planned to hold between June 29 and July 3 around the theme of “TRANS”, were also banned by the decision of Eskişehir Governorship published on their website on June 23, for 15 days.
Eskişehir Pride Week Committee announced that the events would be held despite the ban decision. Police attacked to Eskişehir Pride March on July 3, and 10 people were taken into custody. Following the attack, LGBTI+s read the press statement by scattering around the city
While the Pride March was banned by Eskişehir Governorship, some unsigned brochures, which call people to kill, to stone to death and burn LGBTI+s, were distributed in Eskişehir in May. Although LGBTI+s living in Eskişehir made denunciation about the distributed brochures, calling people to kill LGBTI+s, there is not a concrete step has taken till now.
Translation: Selma Koçak
Tags: human rights
