01/04/2021 | Writer: Ali Erol
"LGBT", not mentioned by TUSIAD (Turkish Industry and Business Association) during their statement against the withdrawal from the İstanbul Convention, turns into hate speech in the mouths of Anatolian Lions Businesspeople.
The business world became a part of the debate on Turkey's withdrawal from the İstanbul Convention by a presidential decision.
Sexist and homophobic hate speech against LGBTI+ rights and equality movement that legitimizes the discrimination of sexual orientation and gender identity was not interrupted even though the İstanbul Convention was terminated.
"Homosexuality", which the Directory of Communications of the Presidency declared as the "justification" for Turkey's withdrawal from the İstanbul Convention, turned into profanity and hate speech in the mouth of Orhan Aydin, president of the Anatolian Lions Businesspeople's Association (ASKON).
Anadolu News Agency mediated this discriminatory language and homophobic hate speech of ASKON President Aydin that used the phrase "perversions like LGBT".
The President of the Anatolian Lions Businessmen's Association, who expressed his thanks to the President "for our withdrawal from the İstanbul Convention", continues with the statement "we are the custodians of the women by the will of Allah" after a homophobic hate speech session: "We should've stated long ago that like an iceberg, this convention has clauses that dynamite the very roots of our family structure and pave the way for perversions such as LGBT. Thanks to them, they have pulled our country out of this abomination by listening to the common sense of our nation. The laws of our country already include all kinds of sanctions regarding violence against women. In addition, as stated in our great book, the Qur'an, we are the custodians of the women by the will of Allah. This supreme command should be carried on our heads like a crown, and our perspective on women must be changed in accordance with this command."
Orhan Aydin, president of the Anatolian Lions Businesspeople's Association (ASKON), has previously said "LGBT virus" through Anadolu Agency and urged the "business world" to show "sensitivity" to the "LGBT virus".
TÜSIAD opposes the withdrawal from the contract but does not mention "sexual orientation"
"Withdrawal from the İstanbul Convention encourages the distorted mentality that feeds all forms of violence against women", the business community said while not mentioning "homosexuality", which was shown as the reason for the withdrawal.
While article 4 of the convention titled "Fundamental rights, equality, and non‐discrimination" made it clear that sexual orientation and gender identity cannot be discriminated against, TUSIAD did not feel the need to mention "sexual orientation" and "gender identity" in its statement opposing the withdrawal from the İstanbul Convention: "The İstanbul Convention exists to combat all forms of violence against women. The İstanbul Convention exists to protect the victim of violence, no matter who it is. To stand up against violence without 'but's."
Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence (İstanbul Convention), first signed by Turkey in 2012, came into force on August 1, 2014.
The Convention, which was annulled by a decision published in the Official Gazette on March 20th, imposes obligations on signatories to prevent violence against women, protect them from violence, prosecute acts of violence and establish victim support mechanisms.
The Ankara Bar Association has filed a lawsuit at the Council of State seeking the cancellation of the decision to withdraw from the İstanbul Convention.
Translation: Yiğit E. Korkmaz
Tags: human rights, women, labour
