26/09/2024 | Writer: Kaos GL
ÜniKuir’s report titled “Pride Month on Campuses: The 2023 Report” has been published, highlighting the actions taken against LGBTI+ activities on campuses throughout the year.
The report, which seeks to highlight rights violations during Pride Month, analyzed LGBTI+ events at thirteen universities. Based on data from case files, investigations, and field observations, it reveals that university rectorates, governorships, and district governorships imposed bans on Pride Month events. According to the report, police violence was used against students at five LGBTI+ events in 2023, where students were detained and subjected to torture. Additionally, the report stresses that students were threatened with being outed to their families.
The report also features the perspectives of students who experienced police intervention during Pride Marches:
“We arrived at the campus by bus as usual. Inside, there were 2-3 detention buses and all the private security guards were present. They stopped every private car and municipal bus entering the school and conducted searches. The police, along with the detention bus, inspected the bus we were on. As we got off, we were followed by the police, who also disembarked. We attempted to engage in dialogue with them, but the university administration is very strict. As the first group, we ended up being detained under torture...”
“There is torture going on…”
The report underlines that although court rulings were frequently issued regarding Pride Month events, these decisions were often disregarded:
“One day before the 11th METU Pride March, the Rectorate issued a ban on the event through an email sent to university members. Notably, the content of the email was identical to the banning decision from the previous year, even though that decision had been annulled by the Ankara 8th Administrative Court.”
The report highlights that LGBTI+ university students are calling for greater support in response to the rights violations they face on campuses. It emphasizes that the efforts of the media, MPs, academics, and human rights organizations have been insufficient. One university student expressed this expectation for support in the report:
“There is torture going on… We’re just trying to do something innocent, like a picnic, to be together and feel good. In other cities, people are being detained without any wrongdoing. MPs need to raise awareness about this. In the past, artists, members of parliament, everyone would attend Pride Marches, but now almost no one assume responsibility.”
Click to read the report in Turkish.
Tags: human rights, education
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