Degrading Treatment Deserves ECHR Attention

Lawyers: The Case Merits the ECHRs Attention According legal experts, demanding pornographic images, consent to medical inspection, and the demeaning process of reporting for exemptions of the gays from military service are against human rights princ

İstanbul

Legal experts converge on the opinion that the present process of exempting homosexuals from the military service is a blunt violation of human rights.

"The procedure applied is against the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, as it defies the right to privacy, threatens individual securities and contravenes maintaining personal freedoms says former Secretary General of the Human Rights Association (IHD), Ercan Kanar.

According to Kanar demanding of pornographic images and consent to medical examination is in similar vein with virginity controls, depilating human dignity. In principle, individual declaration should be enough for exemption. Further requirements are proof of states mistrusts of citizens, he adds.

According to Kanar, gays facing such debasing treatment might file their case to the Military Administrative Court or appeal to the Military Prosecutors. Should they nullify the case, it could be brought before the ECHR.

Public awareness

The IHD Istanbul Branchs Head Eren Keskin states that, although militarys practices lack legal basis, such events are frequently observed.

Gays facing such degrading treatment by the military officials do not want to raise public attention out of respect and fear of their families, she believes. Yet, greater public awareness would provide greater space for a solution to the homophobia. (AK/EÜ/EK/YE)