12/12/2024 | Writer: Defne Güzel
In November, dozens of LGBTI+ activists were detained in different protests, e-prescription restrictions were imposed on hormone medications, MUBİ FEST was censored.
Photo: TDoR protest attacked by police in Ankara
Violations
Some medicines, including hormones used by transgender people in hormone replacement therapy, were subject to e-prescription. Police detained LGBTI+ people who wanted to raise their voice against discrimination.
· Detention at Istanbul Marathon: On November 3, according to an X user's post, a runner was detained along with his lawyer for waving the rainbow flag at the Istanbul Marathon.
· Kadıköy District Governorate banned the screening of the movie “Queer”: MUBI Turkey announced that “Queer”, the opening film of MUBI FEST, was banned. In response to this decision, the platform canceled the entire festival.
· Police prevented the distribution of donuts to commemorate trans victims of hate crimes: Police prevented the 10th Istanbul Trans Pride Week Committee from distributing donuts in Beşiktaş Square on November 20. Trans activists, food vendors and citizens were subjected to police report checks.
· Four detained in Ankara Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDoR) protest: LGBTI+'s in Ankara marched on November 20 to commemorate transgender victims of hate crimes with the call of Ankara Pride Week Committee. The police attacked the marching group. Four people were detained. The detainees were released in the following hours.
· Decision on pharmaceutical restrictions blocked access to hormones: The Turkish Medicines and Medical Devices Agency has imposed e-prescription requirements on some of the hormone replacement therapy medications used by transgender people during their gender reassignment process.
· Detentions for hormone access protest: “Trans+ people's access to hormones cannot be prevented” protesters gathered in front of Süreyya Opera House on November 23rd against the decision to make hormones inaccessible through restrictions on medication. Before the protest started, 38 people were beaten and detained under police blockade.
· Two Azerbaijani activists who participated in the November 25 march were sent to the Repatriation Center: On November 25th, the Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, Taksim Square was blockaded. 169 women were detained during the night. Two Azerbaijani LGBTI+ activists were not released and were sent to the Repatriation Center.
· Law enforcement harassment against trans women in Izmir: November 20 Association announced that in the last two months, police officers fined trans women on the grounds of GBT. Trans women's identity information was used arbitrarily, and reports were kept by showing streets they did not pass as “passed”. Irregular procedures were also carried out against trans women's homes.
· A trans woman was extorted and beaten in Samsun: In the incident that took place 2 months ago, G.K. said that a person beat her and extorted her jewelry. Police examined security cameras and detained the suspect O.S. The court issued an arrest warrant.
· The strategic plan of the Ministry of Family contains hate: In the 2024-2028 plan prepared by the Ministry, LGBTI+ persons are targeted as “orientations that threaten the family institution”.
Course of the trials
While the Court of Appeal rejected the aggravated life sentence demand in the Hande Buse Şeker case, the BEKSAV case and the case against 11 LGBTI+ activists ended in acquittal.
· In the Hande Buse Şeker case, the Court of Appeal rejected the aggravated life sentence demand: On November 6, in the hearing held at the appeal court, the court described the murder of Hande Buse Şeker as a simple act of murder.
· Acquittal in BEKSAV case: In the fifth hearing of the lawsuit filed against members of BEKSAV Cinema Collective for wanting to watch the movie “Pride” during Pride Month last year, the court acquitted the defendants.
· 11 LGBTI+ activists acquitted in the case: The lawsuit filed against 11 LGBTI+ rights activists for their press statement titled “For Those We Lost in the Earthquake” on February 10, 2024 was held on November 13. The court acquitted the activists.
· The D.D. case was appealed: The final hearing of the case against Halil G., who attacked and injured D.D. in Ankara and caused her to be in danger of death, was held on May 21. D.D.'s lawyers appealed the verdict. The case will be heard on January 10.
· Insult case against journalist Bülent Kılıç for following the Pride March: Kılıç, who learned that Hanifi Zengin had filed a defamation lawsuit against him when he was detained at the airport, was released after his statement was taken.
Targeting
The rhetoric of decision-makers was everywhere in November. Coordination meetings, municipal councils, fairs, shuras, forums, congresses and the Turkish Grand National Assembly...
· 1st Coordination Board Meeting on the Protection and Strengthening of the Family: At the meeting held at the Presidential Complex, executives lined up to make anti-LGBTI+ statements. Minister of Family Göktaş used expressions such as “desexualization” and “global harmful trend”, while Head of Religious Affairs Erbaş used the term “deviant ideology”.
· Controversy in Çekmeköy Municipality Assembly: Ak Party municipal councilor targeted the gender equality commission established by the municipality in the assembly.
· Bursa Metropolitan Municipality targeted: Bursa Metropolitan Mayor Bozbey's pose with Barbaros Şansal became a target of anti-LGBTI+ activists.
· President spoke at the 4th International NGO Fair: “We know very well the insidious purpose behind presenting sexual perversions as a human right and choice,” President Erdoğan said in his speech.
· LGBTI+ people are the reason for the age limit on social media: LGBTI+'s were the justification for the regulation that includes an age limit on the use of social media.
· Targeting at 7th Religious Council: Speaking at the Council, President of Religious Affairs Erbaş said, “Effective work must be carried out against deviant formations.”
· The President spoke at TRT World Forum: “We are against the structure called LGBT and family enmity,” Erdoğan said in his speech.
· MoNE Budget Debates: The Ministry of National Education's budget for 2025 was in the Parliament's Planning and Budget Commission. In the session where opinions were expressed, AK Party MP Ejder Açıkkapı used the expression “LGBT perversion”. MEB Yusuf Tekin, in his statement at the District Congress, implied that defending LGBTI+ rights is against the Constitution. The Minister, who took the kindergarten debate to another level, made statements in a program he attended. These debates were also on the agenda of the parliament.
· The Vatan Party conveyed its proposals on influence agency and “LGBT law proposal” to Soylu: Vatan Party conveyed its discriminatory proposals to Süleyman Soylu, the chairman of the Parliamentary Interior Commission. The party's proposal on LGBTI+s violates the right to organize, while the proposal on influence agency envisages penalties for work carried out with US and EU funds.
· Mil Diyanet Sen Turkey Meetings: LGBTI+ persons and the Istanbul Convention were targeted in the meeting organized by the union in Elazığ.
· Leyla Şahin Usta targeted LGBTI+ persons: At the Gebze Congress, Leyla Şahin, Deputy Chairperson for Human Rights at the AK Party Headquarters, said, “We will not give opportunity to those who employ LGBT personnel.”
Tags: human rights
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