04/07/2024 | Writer: Kaos GL
The Human Rights Association (İHD) Antalya Branch made a press statement regarding the Antalya Governorship’s announcement of a ban on Pride Month events. Speaking to KaosGL.org, Lawyer Ahmet Çevik stated that the Antalya Provincial Security Directorate wrote a letter to the governorship requesting the ban.
According to the news report in Akdeniz Manşet newspaper, at the press statement held on July 3 (yesterday), IHD member Lawyer Ahmet Çevik said, “Today we came together to celebrate the 10th Pride Month Committee. However, the Antalya Governorship announced the ban decision with a statement. After announcing it, the decision was removed from their website, but at the same time, it was reported in the partisan press that a ban was in force. We state that we do not recognize the banning decision, find it absurd, and consider it null and void. We never accept this order.”
Reminding that the Antalya Pride March has been ongoing for 10 years, Çevik continued:
“It has built a struggle against the anti-freedom mentality and thwarted the efforts of those who tried to ignore the LGBTI+ community. We were, are, and will always be everywhere. The LGBTI+ community cannot be criminalized by any dirty politics. We address the government and its partners who want to cover up their own failures and the natural consequences of their unlawful governance by attacking the groups they see as the most vulnerable: stand out of the sunlight of our existence, peace, and human rights of the LGBTI+ community. Call off your attacks on nature, animals, trees, and life. The diversity of sexual orientation and gender identity arising from the natural structure of the animal and human world is recognized by conscience, reason, and positive law worldwide. It is obvious what you are trying to do by targeting and marginalizing people’s sexual orientations and identities with hatred.”
Speaking at the press statement, Zeliha Şengöz said:
“This year in Antalya, we came together as volunteers and activists from queer, feminist, vegan, environmentalist, and animal liberation movements. We decided to unite against hate, discrimination, and marginalization through nonviolent, vegan gatherings, presentations, and conversations. We were banned before, and we are banned again. This is because we condemned the recent hate speech directed at Syrians and equally criticized those who did nothing to prevent this hatred and violence. We declared, ‘We will not be a part in this hatred,’ as the troubles caused by ineffective governance and economic and social policies turn into social hatred and aggression, targeting the weakest links. This year, we did not remain silent against the persecution caused by Israel in Palestine, the unfair and unlawful appointments of trustees overriding the will of the people, the social and economic poverty due to ineffective governance, femicides and misogyny, transgender murders, the non-recognition of LGBTI+ rights, the criminal dog culling law proposal, the slaughtered animals, the forests and habitats destroyed for corporate gain, or the education curriculum proposal undermining secularism and democratic values. We chose to stand in solidarity with all these struggles because we, as LGBTI+, are aware of the pain of injustice, loneliness, oppression, and being silenced and being plunged into darkness. We understand that we must fight for our existence and our demand for equality from birth. For this reason, we feel and understand the solidarity of all groups in struggle.
We know the anti-worker, anti-woman, anti-lesbian, anti-animal, anti-environment, and anti-law mentality that stands before us to plunder our rights. We condemn it once again and shout out to its shameless and unblushing face: We are neither wrong nor alone.”
Pride Month events will go on in Antalya
Speaking to KaosGL.org, Lawyer Çevik said, “The official website of the Antalya Governorship announced the ban decision in the announcements section but removed it after 20-30 minutes. Subsequently, the ban was reported in the partisan press. Yesterday, I called the editorial offices of the governorship, and they confirmed the withdrawal, indicating there might have been an inaccuracy or deficiency in the spelling or content of the banning decision, which could be why it was withdrawn.”
Stating that there is currently no city-wide ban, Çevik mentioned that the Antalya Provincial Security Directorate had written to the governorship requesting a ban. However, Çevik affirmed that Pride Month activities will continue.
Tags: human rights
