Nationalist Movement Party

“That thing does not suit MHP!”

Source: Hazal Özvarış, “‘That Thing does not Suit MHP!’” (“‘O Şey MHP’ye Uymaz!’”), T24, 2 June 2014, http://t24.com.tr/haber/o-sey-mhpye-uymaz,259998

Translator’s note: This is the translation of an excerpt from an interview conducted with the former MHP (Nationalist Movement Party) Province Chairman for Istanbul, Abdurrahman Başkan. While the full interview covers multiple topics, we have chosen to translate only the part that pertains to LGBTI individuals.

Homosexual nationalists

Q: You might have seen the “Nationalist LGBTs” account on Twitter.

A: I prefer not to answer this question since I do not have much information on it.

Q: Upon being elected Province Chairman for Istanbul, you gave an interview to Hürriyet Daily where you said the following: “I try to meet with all sectors of society. I have conservative values but I can consider all kinds of opinions.” What prevents you now from doing so?

A: You are referring to people’s preferences. Everyone’s inclination is their own business. That is why I do not wish to comment on this.

“LGBT inclinations do not fit with our frame of mind”

Q: The editor in chief of Ortadoğu Daily recounted the following on 3 May, the day of Turkism: “It [the newspaper] does not have fuss and feathers; no wise men or models, nobody from Robert College or Saint Joseph High School, no gays, no jabber, no tabloid press. That is why only nationalists read it.”

A: What we say is that our conservative frame [of mind] is opposed to that thing you describe. We are saying that it does not suit our more conservative and traditional family structure.

Q: You abstain from even mentioning the word.

A: We say that this subject does not agree with our worldview.

Q: Are you saying that “there cannot be a nationalist who is gay” while homosexual nationalists are trying to make their voices heard on Twitter, albeit via nicknames?

A: I cannot give any comments on this question.

Q: Why not?

A: I have already explicitly replied to this. These kinds of inclinations do not agree with our general philosophy, the religion that we take as a basis of our nationalist, conservative structure.

Q: So what is your mission statement as a politician; what must homosexuals do?

A: Everyone in politics may be focused on attracting votes from various sectors. But we do not have any party activities that incorporate those who have such inclinations.

“They do not disappear when you ignore them”

Q: Therefore if the MHP were to win the elections, they would not have policies regarding homosexuals because they would only devise politics based on the sectors that vote for them. Is that correct?

A: I am only expressing my own opinions. But I can say that this is not an issue we spend much time on or something that we are open to.

Q: Mr. Başkan, if the CHP were elected and they said, “We are not open to Islam,” would you not consider yourself ostracized, as a Muslim?

A: But you are talking about Islam. Why are you conflating two issues that have nothing to do with each other?

Q: Society is made up of multiple components.

A: And so, are you about to ask me how I perceive pickpockets or some other people?

Q: Is your stance one that involves ignoring them?

A: They do not disappear when you ignore them. I said that we have no projects or pledges in this regard.

 

“They are showing orgies at coffeehouses”

Abbreviations: Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), Justice and Development Party (AKP), Republican People’s Party (CHP), Peace and Democracy Party (BDP)

Source: Bülent Sarıoğlu, “Kahvede çoklu seks izletiyor,” (“They are showing orgies at coffeehouses,”) Hürriyet, 3 December 2013, http://www.hurriyet.com.tr/gundem/25264344.asp

The Constitutional Reconciliation Commission’s 25-month work has finally ended. The “colorful” bickerings of the Parliamentarians regarding education in native language, citizenship, the characteristics of the Republic, rights of sovereignty, general morality, honor, gay marriage, and FEMEN have been documented in the records. Some quotes from the records:

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What is Deemed a “Crisis” in the New Constitution Debates is Homosexuals’ Right to Life

Source: Kaos GL, “Yeni Anayasa Yazımında “Kriz” Adı Altında Tartışılan Eşcinsellerin Yaşam Hakkıdır,” (What is Deemed as a “Crisis” in the New Constitution Debates is Homosexuals’ Right to Life,) 22 May 2012, http://www.kaosgl.org/sayfa.php?id=11417

Kaos GL released a statement about the discussions on including the “sexual orientation and gender identity” phrases in the “equality” article of the New Constitution on 22 May 2012.

LGBTs ask for guarantees for their right to life

Kaos GL, in collaboration with all LGBT associations, insists on getting the reality of “sexual orientation and gender identity” recognized in the New Constitution.

If the terms “sexual orientation and gender identity” that describe the existence of LGBT people are not being added to the “equality” article of the constitution, LGBT people will continue to be evaluated as “everybody” or “the other” or “and the like” and politics of denial will remain.

The “crisis” in the Constitutional Reconciliation Commission during the discussion of “equality” item is a crisis of determining who will be accepted as a “citizen” and who is going to be respected as “human.” The objection to “sexual orientation” and “gender identity” signs that LGBT people will not be accepted as citizens.

LGBT people’s right to life is ignored by the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), though the Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) and Republican People’s Party (CHP) recognize it.

If the government does not recognize LGBT people and does not ensure their human rights, it will support the current discrimination under the name of ‘’the New Constitution’’ and will open the way to discrimination and hate crimes that LGBT people are already subjected to.

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