14/07/2023 | Writer: Selma Koçak
Adana LGBTI+ Pride Week Committee reported the goings-on during 2nd Adana Pride March, in which 18 people were detained under torture.
Adana LGBTI+ Pride Week Committee reported the goings-on during 2nd Adana Pride March, in which 18 people were detained under torture, including three lawyers, on Sunday, July 9th.
Gathering at Adana Human Rights Association yesterday (July 10), Adana LGBTI+ Solidarity, Colors of Resistance, Çukurova LGBTI+ and independent LGBTI+ activists spoke of violation of rights they were subjected to during 2nd Adana Pride March.
It is stated that armored vehicles, riot police, detention vehicles and civilian police were present at five different locations, where the Pride Week statement was announced to be held, within the scope of the report prepared by LGBTI+ activists.
The report also underlines that “18 LGBTI+ activists and right defenders, including 3 lawyers, were detained forcibly, under torture and by using physical violence without making any warning notice”.
Stating that the press member, H.K., from Mesopotamia News Agency was beaten and their equipment were seriously damaged, the report reminds that the freedom of the press and reporting are also being prevented.
Full text of the report is as follows:
Adana LGBTI+ Solidarity, Colors of Resistance, Çukurova LGBTI+ Solidarity and independent LGBTI+ activists united under the roof of Adana LGBTI+ Pride Week Committee in May, 2023. Adana LGBTI+ Pride Week Committee announced the events and activities planned to be held to the Adana public by making a press release on June 21, 2023. However, on July 7th, the Adana Governorship banned our two activities, including a press release and a vegan picnic planned to be held between July 8-10, 2023 stating that these events were against public order and general morality.
We observed that Security General Directorate Adana Security Branch, which was encouraged by the ban decision of the Adana Governorship, deployed at five different locations around the place, where the press release of Adana LGBTI+ Pride Week Committee was announced to be made, between July 3-9, 2023. Although we had arrived the park, where the press statement planned to be made, two hours before the event, there were riot police, civilian police and detention vehicles around., As LGBTI+s and right defenders we gathered at Atatürk Park in order to stand against the ban decision. Even though at least five lawyers and a parliamentary member tried to contact with the Security Branch, law enforcement officers didn’t accept to interview with the lawyers and Green Left Party MP Perihan Koca in any way. Without making any warning notice, 18 LGBTI+ activists and right defenders, including three lawyers, were detained forcibly, under torture and by using physical violence on the grounds of violating Law no. 2911 on Meetings and Demonstrations and resisting and hindering the police officer on duty. Green Left Party Mersin MP Perihan Koca was beaten and subjected to be detention attempt. A press member H.K. from Mesopotamia News Agency was beaten and their equipment were seriously damaged, their freedom of press and reporting were prevented.
VIOLATION OF RIGHTS IN DETAIL
1. Detention and Torture
18 LGBTI+ activists and right defenders, including three lawyers, were detained forcibly, under torture and by using physical violence on the grounds of violating Law no. 2911 on Meetings and Demonstrations and resisting and hindering the police officer on duty. Green Left Party Mersin MP Perihan KOCA was beaten subjected to a detention attempt while she was trying to read the Adana Pride Week press statement. The press member H.K. from Mesopotamia News Agency was beaten and their equipment were seriously damaged, their freedom of press and reporting were prevented. The footage of battery and violence was collected by the Adana Pride Week crisis desk and it is revealed that 5 (five) LGBTI+ activists and/or right defenders were detained under torture and they were beaten by the law enforcement officers. Necessary legal actions will be taken.
2. Intervention in Freedom of Assembly, Demonstration and Expression:
LGBTI+s and/or right defenders gathered in order to express and eliminate the systematic hatred and ever-increasing violence against LGBTI+s within the scope of the Adana LGBTI+ Pride Week events, upon the call of Adana LGBTI+ Pride Week Committee. Since this assembly is a part of freedom of expression and is guaranteed by constitutions, international conventions and human rights documents. It is stated that everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression and freedom of assembly within the context of Article 19 of United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights. In addition regional conventions such as the European Convention on Human Rights also guarantee the right to assembly and demonstration.
Tags: human rights
