31/01/2024 | Writer: Selma Koçak
In the case where members of BEKSAV were put on trial for wanting to watch the film “Pride”, the lawyer pointed out that all the events which were to be organized within the framework of the Pride month were to be prevented by means of illegal practices.
The second hearing of the lawsuit filed against Science Education Esthetic Culture Art Researches Foundation (BEKSAV) Cinema Collective members on the grounds of “coming together to watch the film ‘Pride’” in Pride Month, was held yesterday at 11:35 a.m. (January 30) at the Anadolu Courthouse (Kartal), at the 45th Criminal Court of First Instance.
In his request for an acquittal, the lawyer pointed out that unlawful practices had been put in place to prevent the events that were planned to take place as part of the Pride Month celebrations:
“First of all, we demand an immediate acquittal, as the legal elements of the alleged crime have not been constituted, as fundamental rights and freedoms can only be restricted by law, while in the concrete case a decision of the district governorship was used to prevent our client and his friends from organizing a film screening. Moreover, the place where this screening was to be held was in a remote part of the Kadıköy district, even on a private property in a quiet cul-de-sac, but on the day of the incident the police came early in the morning, blocked the entrance of this foundation, forced the people, who were inside the building, to come out and then detained them without any warning. Despite the fact that no action was taken in relation to the accusation, unlawful practices were carried out in this way for all the events that took place at that time. In the current case, all defendants have been heard, there are no defendants or witnesses to be heard or evidence to be collected, we demand an immediate acquittal for all these reasons.”
The prosecution requested time to prepare a final opinion on the case and the court granted the requests and adjourned the hearing to Thursday, April 18 at 11:35 am.
What had happened?
On June 7th, BEKSAV Cinema Collective had made a call for watching the movie “Pride”, which depicts a group of lesbian and gay activists who raised money to help families affected by the British miners' strike in 1984 and the solidarity between miners and queers in United Kingdom, within the scope of Pride Month events.
Following the ban decision on screening issued by the Kadıköy District Governorship, BEKSAV had announced that did not recognize the ban decision and called all moviegoers and LGBTI+s to the screenings. And at the end BEKSAV and Cinema Collective members and participants who came for the screening were detained. Following the police violence, the foundation had said “We defend the colors of the rainbow against the LGBTI+ hostility of the government.”
CLICK – They’re being prosecuted for planning a screening during the banned Pride Week!
The first trial of the case, in which 8 people are being charged on the grounds of violating Law No. 2911 on Meetings and Demonstrations, had been heard on October 31.
Tags: human rights, media, arts and culture
