13/03/2024 | Writer: Selma Koçak
DEM Party İstanbul MP Özgül Saki submitted a parliamentary question regarding the ban on 12th Pink Life KuirFest
Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) İstanbul MP Özgül Saki submitted a parliamentary question regarding the ban on 12th Pink Life KuirFest (QueerFest).
Özgül Saki shared her parliamentary question regarding the ban on the 12th Pink Life KuirFest on her social media account, X, as follows.
“It has reflected in the press that the 12th Pink Life KuirFest, scheduled to occur on 23-25 February 2024 at Goethe Institut Ankara, Chamber of Mechanical Engineers Education and Culture Center, and Mülkiyeliler Association was banned by the Ankara Governorship Legal Affairs Branch Directorate.
Law enforcement officers issued a ban order to the screening and notified the ban order to the event venues of the Pink Life KuirFest just thirty minutes before its scheduled opening. The ban order included some statements such as “Any exhibitions, press releases, film screenings, cinema, theatre, panels, lectures, etc. related to LGBT-LGBTI, etc. planned to be organized by various organization, institutions or individuals, were banned.” The ban order was justified on the grounds “for the protection of public order, public health and morals, and the rights and freedoms of others.”
Restrictions on all activities associated with LGBTI+ individuals, including lesbian, gay, bisexual, transsexual, transgender, intersex, and others, have grown increasingly stringent since the State of Emergency period. These measures have persisted, resulting in the closure of LGBTI+ clubs and organizations, as well as the targeting of events such as film screenings, picnics, festivals, and exhibitions. The struggle of LGBTI+ persons against discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity is protected by Article 10 and Article 17 of the Constitution of the Republic of Turkey and Articles 8 and 14 of the European Convention on Human Rights. However, these bans have transformed into practices that unmistakably hinder and violate the rights to assembly and freedom of association.”
In her parliamentary question, Saki asked the Minister of Interior Ali Yerlikaya:
• For what concrete reason(s) did the Ankara Governorship issue the ban order for the activities of LGBTI+s citing “protection of public order, public health and morals, and the rights and freedoms of others”?
• What is the threat to public order associated with the Pink Life KuirFest?
• If security concerns were indeed a factor, it raises the question of whether appropriate security measures were implemented prior to the decision to ban the activities. Given that the relevant administration has the legal authority to enact necessary security measures within provincial borders, were necessary measures adequately undertaken beforehand?
• On what grounds was it deemed appropriate by the Ankara Governorship to ban the event instead of taking security measures?
• The unjust ban decisions made by administrations under your Ministry have indeed been overturned by administrative courts, indicating a potential pattern of disproportionate restrictions on LGBTI+-themed events. Since 2016, how many events have been banned for being LGBTI+ themed or for the “protection of public order, public health and morals, and the rights and freedoms of others”?
• How many of the lawsuits challenging the ban decisions issued by the Ankara Governorship regarding LGBTI+ events or based on reasons of “protecting public order, public health and morals, the rights and freedoms of others” have been deemed unlawful and subsequently overturned?
Tags: human rights, arts and culture
