31/08/2023 | Writer: Defne Güzel
RTÜK censorship, hunt for rainbow at schools, concert bans and targeting LGBTI+ activists left its mark on July.
Violation of rights against LGBTI+s in July are as follows:
Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK) President Ebubekir Şahin shared the redlines of the institution on his social media account. Right after then, RTÜK imposed sanctions on streaming platforms including Netflix, Disney +, Prime Video, MUBI, BeIN and Blue TV. The justifications of the fines were “imagining an alternative world based on gender”, “crossing the limits of sexuality and gender”, “including LGBTQ+ items”. On the other side the lawsuit filed against the RTÜK on the grounds of broadcasting the hate rally in Saraçhane as a public announcement, was dismissed.
Having been pointed out as a target by Melih Gökçek, Cem Adrian’s concert program in Yozgat was cancelled.
Hande Yener’s concert in Balıkesir was also cancelled due to being targeted.
The rainbow-coloured walls of Kocaeli Municipal Hospital have been changed after being targeted by once again Melih Gökçek.
Uşak University announced that they charged an official file against the student, who unfurled rainbow flag at the graduation ceremony of the university, even though it doesn’t constitute a crime.
The rector of Malatya Turgut Özal University, made a statement on the employment of an LGBTI+ lecturer and said that the person was “kept waiting”.
The Tekirdağ Governorship instructed the inspectors working in the city to investigate the symbols evoking “LGBTI+ colours” in schools.
Eskişehir Provincial Directorate of Culture and Tourism has launched an investigation into the exhibition titled “Grief and Pleasure” at the Odunpazarı Modern Museum in Eskişehir on the grounds of making “LGBTI propaganda”. The exhibition was closed 12 days earlier than planned.
Directorate of Religious Affairs and Recep Tayyip Erdoğan University announced that they would discuss “desexualization ideology” within the scope of the symposium they would hold on “family”.
Eryaman-Esat case was postponed once again. The expert report hasn’t been completed yet and the next trial will be heard on September 11th.
The gabile.com, which was exposed to an access ban previously, is now available again.
The difficulty in accessing the hormone due to the ever-increasing prices was also reported in the media.
Violation of rights against non-Turkish citizens, who participated in the pride March, goes on.
It is also important to remember the pride marches and pride month events organized, police attacks and bans issued in July:
The police prevented the 9th LGBTI+ Pride March in Antalya. Antalya Governorship put a ban on all the events regarding the Pride Week for six days, and a lawsuit was filed against the ban decision issued by the governorship.
Adana Governorship banned the Pride Month events and many people were detained during the Adana Pride March. The lawyers detained during the march, filed a criminal complaint. Violation of rights during Adana Pride Week and İzmir Pride Week were reported separately. The ban on 2022 İzmir Pride March was cancelled after one year. The İzmir Bar Association filed a criminal complaint regarding the ban on 11th İzmir Pride March and the ill-treatment of the law enforcement officers.
Aydın Governorship banned the Pride Week once again. And the Mersin Governorship issued a ban decision one month after the Pride Week
18 LGBTI+ activists were detained during the Eskişehir Pride March.
Violation of rights against non-Turkish citizens, who were detained during the Pride March in İstanbul and taken to the removal centers, had widespread media coverage.
LGBTI+ activists are being targeted one by one.
Pointing out LGBTI+s as a target, which has been gradually increasing in recent years with the aim of damaging their reputation, was among the most attention-grabbing violation of rights against LGBTI+s in July. Targeting reflected into the press were as follows:
Yeni Şafak newspaper targeted Rüzgar Asya and Eylül due to using women’s toilets and activist Arya Zencefil due to going to the women’s hairdresser.
A network of teachers studying on gender equality was also turned into a target in July.
The exhibition held by ArtIstanbul in Feshane was pointed out as a target for the third time. A criminal complaint was filed against the İstanbul Municipality due to the exhibition.
Yeni Akit newspaper targeted Ebrar Karakurt, one of the players of Turkey’s national women’s volleyball team, by saying “homosexual pervert”. “
The Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) was also among those targeted. Similarly Kaos GL Association was pointed out as a target due to its working field.
Ahmet Mahmut Ünlü, publicly known as Cübbeli Ahmet, also targeted LGBTI+s via his remarks such as “tribe of Lut” and “arsehole”.
On the other side the teacher, who was suspended from duty because of taking photograph with her students in front of a rainbow background and targeted, was restored.
Dr. Larin Kayataş, who was dismissed from civil service in 2021 due to their social media posts, was also reinstated.
Translation: Selma Koçak
Tags: human rights
