Author: ecoleman

Homophobic attitude of the Radio and Television Supreme Council of Turkey: Punishment for FOX Life “due to presenting homosexual relations as if normal”

Source: Homophobic attitude of the Radio and Television Supreme Council of Turkey: Punishmet for FOX Life “due to presenting homosexual relations as if normal” (RTÜK’ten LGBTİ+ düşmanlığı: FOX Life’a “eşcinsel ilişkileri normal gösterme” cezası) Sendika.org, April 11, 2019

 http://sendika63.org/2019/04/rtukten-lgbti-dusmanligi-fox-lifea-escinsel-iliskileri-normal-gosterme-cezasi-542433/

The Radio and Television Supreme Council of Turkey have three times issued broadcasting bans to FOX Life for to the series called “9-1-1”. The reason for the ban of the series which also tells the stories of LGBTI+ people is because of “the inappropriate footage of a male couple”.

The series “9-1-1”, which is broadcast on the channel FOX Life, features lead actress is Golden Globe winner Angela Basset who has also been nominated for Academy and Emmy award. The series tells the lives of emergency first responders such as police officers, healthcare workers, and firefighters, and the series also shares the lives of LGBTI+ people.

According to a news article by AA [Anadolu Agency], the Radio and Television Supreme Council of Turkey reached the conclusion that “the inappropriate footage of an old gay couple in the series is contrary to the national and sentimental values of society, the general ethics, and the principles of protecting the notion of family”. Due to this reason, the Radio and Television Supreme Council of Turkey issued 3 broadcasting bans. Moreover, AA presented this news’s relevant part with the heading “No permission for unethical relationships in series and movies.” 

 

Istanbul LGBTI+ Pride Week Committee Press Declaration

Source: https://www.facebook.com/prideistanbul/posts/923686597758954

Istanbul LGBTI+ Pride Week Committee Press Declaration: The Istanbul Governorship is openly violating the constitution and laws!

Since 2003, we have been organizing a LGBTI+ Pride March on Istiklal Avenue, the last Sunday of June to raise our voice against rights breaches we encounter throughout the year, to demand equality, freedom and legal status and to state that we are not ashamed but “PROUD” of our existence. It is crucial for us to be visible at the center of cities at least for one day of the year.

Today (June 17, 2016), the Istanbul Governorship released a press statement declaring a ban against the Pride March scheduled to take place on June 26, 2016. It has been this same institution that tried to ban the March last year, in which 100 thousand people were expected to participate, putting forth the reason that “certain sectors of society would be sensitive due to the fact that it [was] scheduled during Ramadan.” Last year’s ban caused tens of people to be injured. The violence incurred is on record and has received worldwide attention.   

The Istanbul Governorship’s justification this year is the various threats directed at the March. We wish once again to remind everyone that the fundamental duty of the state is not to prevent people from exercising their rights. It is to obliterate the obstacles against people who are exercising their rights. In other words, it seems that the governorship prefers to limit people’s rights and freedoms instead of taking measures to deal with the threats.

The right to assemble and organize demonstrations is included in the basic human right of freedom of expression and it is observed as such both by the constitution and by international agreements. As the constitution states, “Everyone, regardless of whether or not they seek prior permission, has the right to assemble and organize demonstrations.” Similarly, Law number 2911 regarding Assembly and the Organization of Demonstrations explains clearly in which ways this right may be exercised. Once again, this decision taken by the governorship is against the law. We respectfully declare to the public that as the Pride Week Committee, we will pursue legal channels and follow up on this case.

#LoveWillWin

Fraud Scheme with Gay Sex Offer

Source: DHA, “Eşcinsel ilişki teklifiyle dolandırıcılık” (“Fraud scheme with gay sex offer”), NTV, 13 January 2015, http://www.ntv.com.tr/turkiye/escinsel-iliski-teklifiyle-dolandiricilik,AkzknWbK306m6KUqX4S1rQ

Fraudsters Zeki T. (22), Gokhan K. (21) and Kaan O. (21), operating a three-man criminal gang on the streets of Istanbul have been caught.

It was revealed that one of the suspects, Kaan O. (21) approached strangers on the street offering them gay sex, before the two other culprits, claiming to be police officers, came up to the victims asking “Are you not ashamed of having had sex with this man?” and threatened to  take them to the police station.

The victims who feared humiliation at the police station have been paying up between 300 TL to 20,000 TL towards an alleged fund for the families of martyrs. It was discovered that the suspects have been taking the victims to a mosque, forcing them to perform ablutions and prayers, and making them swear they “haven’t had homosexual sex” before taking their money.

Offenders Force Ablutions and Prayers

An investigation by the Public Security Directorate exposed an extraordinary fraud scheme. Filing a complaint in Istanbul’s Kucukcekmece district, a man recalled “I was approached by a stranger on the street. He told me he was homosexual and asked if I wanted to have sex with him. I shrugged him off and started walking, when two men came up to me and showed me their police IDs. They accused me of having had gay sex with the man with whom I spoke earlier and wanted to take me to the police station. I tried to explain to them I had never seen that man before in my life. They then took me to a mosque to perform an ablution and a prayer, and made me swear I was telling the truth by placing my hand on the Qur’an. Then they asked me to make a donation for the families of martyrs. I gave them the 100 liras I had in my pocket. They told me this was not enough and that they would be calling on me soon.

Suspects Caught at Meeting Point

Following this complaint, police officers went after the suspects who sought 600 TL as additional payment from the fraud victim. Two of the suspects were arrested upon their arrival at a shopping centre where they had arranged a meet up to collect the sum. Statements from suspects Zeki T. (22) and Gokhan K. (21) led to the detainment of the third suspect Kaan O. (21) who had been playing the part of the gay man in these incidents.

Identified by Four Victims

 It was revealed during the suspects’ interrogation at the Pickpocketing and Fraud Bureau that these men were the suspects of four similar fraud incidents across Kucukcekmece, Uskudar, Esenler and Bagcilar neighbourhoods. They were identified at the Public Security Directorate by four separate fraud victims.

The suspects were taken to the judiciary after the police interrogation. Following their statements at the Prosecution Office, Gokhan K. and Kaan O. were arrested in court. The third suspect Zeki T. was released on bail.

Turkish Ministry of Justice: “We do not do any work on LGBT citizens’ human rights”

The Turkish Ministry of Justice responded to an application to acquire information on LGBT rights: “There is no work on the protection and recognition of lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans citizens’ human rights conducted by our Ministry.”

Source: Murat Köylü, “Turkish: ‘Adalet Bakanlığı: LGBT yurttaşların haklarına dair hiçbir faaliyetimiz yok”, (“Turkish Ministry of Justice: We do not do any work on LGBT citizens’ human rights”), Kaosgl.org, December 30, 2014, http://kaosgl.org/sayfa.php?id=18362

An application to acquire information on LGBT rights made in November by the main opposition party’s, the Republican People’s Party (CHP), MP Mahmut Tanal, a member of the Parliamentary Human Rights Commission, was responded to by the Ministry of Justice.

“There is no work on LGBT citizens’ human rights”

In response to application to acquire information, the Presidency of Education Directorate affiliated to the Ministry of Justice stated “there is no work on the protection and recognition of lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans citizens’ human rights conducted by our Ministry. For Ministry personnel at any level, including those working in local bodies, we have not implemented any work so far in order to raise awareness on the issue.”

With reference to the response, concerns regarding the fact that the Ministry has no approach to and given no priority to LGBT citizens, apart from the Ministry’s both internally and externally very much criticized “LGBT prison”policy, were confirmed. This comes despite Turkey’s LGBT citizens, civil society organizations, opposition parties [the Republican People’s Party (CHP) and the People’s Democratic Party (HDP)] and the United Nations, the Council of Europe and the European Union emphasising how vital it is.

Tanal applied via the Act of Right of Information Acquirement

CHP MP Tanal submitting a parliamentary question “regarding LGBT rights” to the Minister of Justice, Bekir Bozdag, brought the same issue to the agenda of the Ministry by applying under the Act of Right of Information Acquirement having considered that most of the opposition parties’ parliamentary questions are left unanswered. According to the Act, the applicant should access the requested information or document in 15 working days. Otherwise it is sent to the supreme board and administrative jurisdiction.

MP Tanal asked the following questions:

  • Is there any work on the recognition and protection of LGBT citizens’ human rights in your Ministry in line with Turkey’s national and international obligations? What kind of work and to what degree are they conducted?
  • Is there any work [on LGBT citizens] for Ministry personnel at any level, including those working in local bodies? What kind of work and in to what degree are they conducted?