18/01/2024 | Writer: Defne Güzel
Police harassment, censorship, fines, robbery, violence… We witnessed violation of rights against LGBTI+s in the last month of 2023 as well.
We left 2023 behind, however violation of rights chased after LGBTI+s in December as well.
Halk TV’s “Halk Meydanı” program hosted by İrfan Değirmenci was exposed to a three per cent administrative fine issued by the Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK). Their justification was the fact that “LGBTI+-related evaluations are contrary to national and moral values”.
The lawsuit filed against the RTÜK on the grounds of broadcasting the hate rally in Saraçhane as a public announcement, was dismissed. Kaos GL’s request of appeal regarding the issue, was also rejected by the District Administrative Court.
A lawsuit was also filed against the ban order on Eskişehir Pride March, the verdict will be announced in the coming days.
The verdict was announced in Sitrak Kaplan case, Kaplan received life sentence for murder.
Hande Buse Şeker case was also resulted, the verdict was returned. Volkan Hicret was sentenced to life imprisonment for intentional killing for the murder of Hande Buse Şeker; 11 years for attempted murder of the other trans woman who was at home at the time, 27 years for qualified sexual assault, and 13 years for robbery against both trans women.
Boğaziçi University Administration prevented screening of the film titled “My Child”, which tells the story of parents whose children are LGBTI+. Moreover this is not the first censorship of the university.
The latest hearing of the case regarding Ecem Seçkin, a trans woman sex worker slaughtered at her residence by her client Mustafa Fidan when she was 22 years old, was held on December 1. The case was postponed to January 15.
The current governor of İstanbul, Davut Gül, when he was the governor of Gaziantep, called LGBTI+ “perverts” and announced that he would not allow LGBTI+ related events. Following these words from Gül, Antep Queer LGBTI+ Solidarity applied to Human Rights And Equality Institution of Türkiye (TİHEK). TİHEK rejected the application. The court ruled that the rejection was in accordance with the law.
Human Rights Association İstanbul Branch LGBTI+ Commission and Human Rights Foundation of Turkey (HRFT) held a panel titled “Devlet LGBTİ+’lardan Ne İstiyor? (What does the state want from LGBTI+s?)” between 10-17 December. Police teams stood guard and harassed the event on the street where IHD is located during the panel.
A person in Çerkezköy was extorted by people he met through an app. The prosecutor’s office has launched an investigation against the three extortionists.
Speaking at the award ceremony of İlim Yayma Vakfı (The Foundation for the Expansion of Knowledge) Erdoğan targeted LGBTI+s saying “Pervert movements are infecting our society.” Destici, who targets LGBTI+s routinely, also repeated the phrases he learnt by rote. In 2023, when international human rights law is set aside and anti-LGBTI+ discourses are used for prestige Independent Industrialists’ and Businessmen’s Association (MÜSİAD) also targeted LGBTI+s in a meeting it organized. Fatih Erbakan was also among those who don’t worry about talking by rote.
World Children and Family Protection Platform (ÇAKOP) Symposium, on the other hand, produced some fascinating results. The symposium focused on the fact that digital addiction increases homosexual “tendencies”.
Finally, the press reported that Mustafa C., whose workplace was raided and beaten to death because he was bisexual, had not been heard from for over a year.
The year 2023 ended with these violations being reported in the press. You can also report hate crimes that you have experienced or witnessed as a person or an organization.
Translation: Selma Koçak
Tags: human rights, women, media, arts and culture
