Request to ban a second Turkish gay rights group rejected in Bursa

09/10/2006 | Writer: KAOS GL

October 9, 2006

An official demand to ban another gay rights association in the city of Bursa was rejected by a prosecutor on October 6, 2006, allowing the Rainbow Solidarity and Cultural Association to continue to operate, reports. The decision was hailed by gay rights activists as a big step in combating discrimination in the country, which hopes to join the European Union.

On March 3, 2006 Rainbow Solidarity and Cultural Association for Transgenders, Gays and Lesbians was established in the city of Bursa, becoming the second legally registered LGBT organization in Turkey. The Ministry took the application and forwarded it to the related branch which functions under the Mayor of Bursa.

However on May 24, 2006, Cafer Odabas, the deputy governor of Bursa, came out with a statement referring to the Articles 56 and 60 of the Turkish Civil Code prohibiting establishment of an organization
Tags: human rights