26/05/2025 | Writer: Defne Güzel
From the hate bill submitted to parliament to police violence, from flag bans at universities to long-standing struggles for justice... In April, hate speech, rights violations, and discriminatory policies against LGBTQI+ people continued to escalate.
Photo:Yusuf Çelik / csgorselarsiv.org
Violations
HÜDA-PAR submitted an anti-LGBTQI+ bill to parliament. While the Ankara Governorship defended the police torture of a trans woman who exercised her right to protest with transphobic rhetoric, attacks on rainbow flags at universities were also reported in the press.- Anti-LGBTQI+ bill from HÜDA-PAR: HÜDA-PAR, a partner of the People’s Alliance, submitted an anti-LGBTQI+ bill to parliament. The bill, which plans to introduce anti-LGBTQI+ amendments to the Civil Code and the Penal Code, foresees “penalizing LGBTQI+ expressions in public space.”
- House arrest for social media influencer: The Ministry of Family and Social Services filed a criminal complaint against influencer Mükremin Gezgin due to his social media posts. The influencer was placed under house arrest for the crime of “obscene acts.”
- Ankara Governorship defended police torture with transphobia: During the “Youth Standing Up” march in Ankara, police detained a trans woman with torture. After footage of the violence circulated on social media, the governorship defended the torture by referring to her as a “so-called woman.” The leader of the MHP similarly covered up the police violence in his statement.
- Attacks on rainbow flags at universities: During protests that began following the detention of Istanbul Metropolitan Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu and continued after his arrest, the pride flag of the Istanbul University Equality Club was attempted to be torn down by gangs linked to IBDA-C and Grey Wolves. Another attack came from Yıldız Technical University. Queer Yıldız shared footage on social media showing the private security unit attacking the rainbow flag on campus.
- Attack on trans woman in Bursa: In Bursa, a trans woman was attacked by a group of men. Approaching her under the pretext of asking for a cigarette, the men harassed the trans woman and continued to chase her while laughing and recording video.
- Attack on students protesting the “Protection of the Family Symposium” at Hacettepe University: The “Symposium on the Protection and Strengthening of the Family” organized by the Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences at Hacettepe University was protested by students. The symposium, held as part of the “Year of the Family” which targets women and LGBTQI+ individuals, drew reactions from Hacettepe students who were attacked by the private security unit. Riot police also entered the campus.
- Torture of women and LGBTQI+ individuals: Another striking aspect of the protests that began with Ekrem İmamoğlu’s detention was the torture and sexual violence faced by women and LGBTQI+ individuals. A university student detained during the protests in Saraçhane reported that while being taken to Vatan Police Headquarters, “someone tried to touch their genitals over their pants” and they were called “homosexual.”
- Homophobic penalty from the Advertising Board: The Advertising Board issued a suspension penalty against the brand “Sunglass Hut” after its email to consumers included images of a gay couple.
- TİHEK claimed that a person living with HIV was not discriminated against: The Turkish Human Rights and Equality Institution (TİHEK) ruled that “no violation occurred” in the case of an individual who claimed that, after a blood test was taken without their consent during a job application — which included an HIV test — they were rejected from the job due to the result.
Targeting
Politicians continued to target LGBTQI+ people in April. Phrases like “LGBT imposition,” “perverse currents,” and “genderlessness” were repeatedly used.- Minister of National Education Yusuf Tekin: Speaking at the award ceremony of an essay competition held at the Rami Library, Minister Tekin said they opposed “a lesson intended to teach about LGBT,” and in another statement said, “We are against LGBT imposition.”
- HÜDA-PAR Chair Zekeriya Yapıcıoğlu: Speaking during a special session in parliament, Yapıcıoğlu used the phrase “perverse currents.”
- HÜDA-PAR Batman MP Serkan Ramanlı: MP Ramanlı evaluated the anti-LGBTQI+ bill prepared by HÜDA-PAR during a live broadcast on Akit TV. He stated, “We aim to protect our society from perverse understandings and genderless policies.”
- AKP Child Rights Sub-Committee Chair Radiye Sezer: During a meeting with the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative on Violence Against Children, Najat Maalla M’jid, Sezer said, “We are fighting to protect our children from LGBT propaganda.”
- President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan: Speaking at the 5th General Assembly of KADEM, the President used the expression “LGBT rags” in his speech.
- Eğitim Bir-Sen and Memur-Sen: Eğitim Bir-Sen also joined the “Change the Constitution, Protect the Family” campaign. In his speech, Adana Branch Chair Mustafa Sarıgeçili used the phrase “perverse global lobbies.” Additionally, Eğitim Bir-Sen Branch No. 4 issued a statement demanding “legal regulation against LGBT propaganda.” Memur-Sen, together with an alliance that includes Mil Diyanet Sen, continued making statements in support of anti-LGBTQI+ signature campaigns, including one by the President of Memur-Sen.
- Yeniden Refah Party Chair Fatih Erbakan: Speaking at his party’s provincial congress in Antalya, Erbakan said, “We will never allow LGBT propaganda.”
- Aybüke Pusat targeted as LGBTQI+ supporter: Actress Aybüke Pusat was targeted in the media for being an “LGBTQI+ supporter” after joining the boycott call.
- Targeting of LGBTQI+ rights defender: The speech made by the International Relations Coordinator of UniKuir Association at the Council of Europe as a Youth Delegate from Turkey — calling for democracy — became a target of pro-government media.
Legal Proceedings
The Esat-Eryaman case, representing a 19-year-long struggle for justice, was postponed to May 22, while the 41st hearing in the homophobic hate crime case of Ahmet Yıldız, who was murdered in 2008, was postponed to December 25.- Esat-Eryaman Case: In the 19-year justice struggle, the 62-year sentence given to the defendants was overturned by the Court of Cassation because the defense attorneys were not present. The hearing scheduled for April 29 was postponed to May 22.
- Ahmet Yıldız Case: The 41st hearing in the case of Ahmet Yıldız, who was killed in a homophobic hate crime in 2008, was held on April 17. The case was postponed to December 25.
- Derya Dağyolu Case: The third appeal hearing was held in the case of disabled trans woman Derya Dağyolu, who was attacked by a man named Halil G. and spent days in intensive care. The next hearing was set for June 20.
- Eskişehir Pride March Case: The second hearing of the Eskişehir Pride March case was held on April 9. Lawyers protested the file being sent to the prosecutor without an expert report. The final hearing, in which 10 people tortured during detention were on trial, was held on April 30. The court sentenced all defendants under Law No. 2911.
- Antalya Pride March Case: The first hearing of the trial against four people detained for attending a press statement during the 10th Antalya Pride Week was held. The court acquitted all defendants.
- Women for Women’s Human Rights Association took the withdrawal from the Istanbul Convention to the ECtHR: The decision to annul the Convention, published in the Official Gazette on March 20, 2021, by presidential decree, was brought to the European Court of Human Rights by the Women for Women’s Human Rights Association.
- March 8 Feminist Night March Committee filed a criminal complaint against Istanbul Police: The committee filed a complaint against the Istanbul Police regarding rights violations that occurred during and after the march.
- Acquittal in the Kadıköy party case: People who were targeted for organizing a party and prosecuted for obscene behavior were acquitted.
- Release of LGBTQI+ rights activists: Meryem and Oğuz, who were unjustly imprisoned for participating in peaceful protests that began on March 19, were released.
Tags: human rights, women, media, life, education, labour, family, health
