OEDAŞ announced that “LGBT is a crime” graffiti has been removed and they have filed a criminal complaint against it

27/09/2024 | Writer: Nalin Öztekin

Osmangazi Elektrik Dağıtım A.Ş. announced that it filed a criminal complaint with the Eskişehir Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office concerning hate speech graffiti on electricity panels in Eskişehir, which stated, “LGBT is a crime.”

The phrase “LGBT is a crime” has been appearing on electricity panels across various neighborhoods in Eskişehir since 30 June. This hate speech has prompted LGBTI+ rights defenders in the city to take action.

Lawyer Hasan Çayır has taken legal action, filing a criminal complaint with the Eskişehir Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office, supported by visual evidence of the hate graffiti. Hasan Çayır then brought the issue to Osmangazi Elektrik Dağıtım A.Ş. (OEDAŞ), the organization responsible for providing electricity services in the city. The company responded to Çayır’s petition, which requested the removal of the hate speech written on electrical panels, commonly referred to as transformers and field distribution boxes.

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OEDAŞ removes “LGBT is a crime” graffiti

OEDAŞ reported that the hate speech on the transformer buildings and field distribution boxes mentioned in the petition had been removed, and that the process of erasing similar graffiti at other locations identified by company teams in the provincial center was ongoing. Additionally, company officials stated that they had brought the “LGBT is a crime” graffiti to the judiciary, saying:

“A criminal complaint has been filed with the Eskişehir Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office to seek punishment for those responsible for the hate speech written on equipment belonging to our company’s inventory.”

“It’s significant that the company has also labeled the graffiti as hate crimes”

Lawyer Hasan Çayır, who submitted the petition, shared his thoughts on OEDAŞ’s response with KaosGL.org:

“I believe that identifying the perpetrators of the crime is just as important as removing the hate speech from the electrical panels. In their response, the company informed us that the hate speech we reported on the panels had been removed, that efforts to identify other instances across the city are ongoing, and that they have filed a criminal complaint against those responsible for the hate speech. I also think it’s significant that the company has also labeled the graffiti as hate crimes.”

Tags: human rights