27/07/2023 | Writer: Selma Koçak
Mersin Governorship, which fell short of its “duty” to ban the events, issued a ban order one month after the Pride Week.
Mersin Pride Week had been held one month before the announced date in order to avoid the nationwide bans on LGBTI+ Pride Week events.
Mersin Governorship, which fell short of its “duty” to ban the events, issued a ban order one month after the Pride Week was held.
The ban order issued by the Governorship included the following statements:
“In order to ensure public order and public peace, to protect public health and general morality, to provide safety of life and property of our citizens, and to prevent crimes; all kind of activities (meeting and attempt to meet, making a press statement, marching, carrying out sit-in protest, setting up a table / tent, distributing leaflets, protesting, hanging a banner / poster, organizing a festival, sports competition, panel discussion, conference, seminar, film screening and etc.) which are planned to be held indoors and out with the aim of supporting or protesting the events carried out by LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex) associations and formations, are banned on the grounds of Article 17 of Law no. 2911 on Meetings and Demonstration and Article 11/a and 11/c of the Provincial Administration Law no. 5442, in Mersin from 23.07.2023, 00.01 am to 01.08.2023, 24.00 pm, for ten (10) days with the decision no. 232 given by Mersin Governorship.”
9th Mersin LGBTI+ Pride Week had been carried out earlier than the day announced in order to overcome Governorship bans.
The Pride Week, which had been announced to be held between July 24-30 under the theme of “Sığmazam” (I don’t fit in), had been carried out one month earlier unknown the police. Mersin Pride Week had shared photos created by artificial intelligence on social media at first. Then it had announced that LGBTI+s living in the city had gathered in company with photos of the events held within the scope of the week.
“Well, will we fit into the roles assigned to us, into those sacred families for the sake of some people who has no aim except protecting their seats and getting richer? Will we fit into identities, languages, beliefs and genders imposed on us?”
In addition to the lectures, a nature walk had also been organized during the week.
Tags: human rights
