07/01/2015 | Writer: Ömer Akpınar
The court has ruled that it is not ‘contrary to morality’ for Ekogenc Youth and Ecology Association to be active in the area of sexual orientation.
The case concerning the closure of Ekogenc Youth and Ecology Association, which was initiated because the expression “sexual orientation” occurs in its charter, and because it did not adopt an organizational model based on hierarchy, has concluded. The court has ruled that it is not “contrary to morality” for Ekogenc to be active in the area of sexual orientation.
Work in the area of sexual orientation is not “contrary to law and morality”
The fourth session of the closure case, initiated by the Van Governor’s Office against the Ekogenc Youth and Ecology Association, was held on December 19 at Van’s Fifth Civil Court of First Instance. The court ruled that Ekogenc’s activity in the area of sexual orientation does not conflict with the expression “no association may be established with aims that are contrary to law and morality,” stated in the 56th Article of the Turkish Civil Code.
In the previous session of the case held in November, the court, stating that there was a “formal flaw” in Ekogenc’s charter, had granted an extension until the last session and accepted the Izmir Black Pink Triangle Association’s request to participate as a joint plaintiff.
The court accepted LGBTI organizations as joint plaintiffs
In the last session the case was concluded after the necessary correction in the charter was made. The court also accepted the Kaos GL Association’s lawyer Hayriye Kara’s application to participate. Kara recalled that in 2005, when the Kaos GL Association was founded, the association was involved in a closure request because of its area of work, yet the Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office did not initiate a lawsuit against the association.
“Organizing is freedom”
After the trial, Ekogenc made a press statement, saying that “the ruling supported a democratic, participatory, horizontal organizational model.” Explaining that the Van Governor’s Office’s claim of immorality had been answered, and that the ruling had occasioned a re-examination of the concept of morality, Ekogenc said that “organizing is freedom.”
The Black Pink Triangle Izmir Association, the Kaos GL Association, the Left-Wing Law Association, the Life Woman Environment Culture and Business Cooperative (YAKA-KOOP), the Van Women’s Association, Hêvî LGBTI, and Ahtamara LGBTI Wan were signatories to the statement.
Translation: LGBTI News Turkey
Tags: human rights
