‘İstanbul Convention is annulled, people are made vulnerable to violence’

* Photo: Açık Radyo (Liana Georgi, an artist from Germany, marched in front of the police at the 19th İstanbul Pride March)

Click to read the article in Turkish / Kurdish

The Human Rights Association (İHD) has released a statement about the violations of rights committed during the 19th İstanbul LGBTI+ Pride March held in Taksim, Beyoğlu on Saturday (June 26).

The Association has recalled that Turkey has withdrawn from the İstanbul Convention, which protects LGBTI+ and women from violence and discrimination, by a Presidential decision on March 20, raising concerns that "people are made vulnerable to violence" by this move.

Police attacked the group who gathered in Mis Street for the Pride March, taking several people into custody by torture.

Marking the Pride Week of the LGBTI+ community, the İHD Women's Commission has demanded an investigation against the ones who violated the prohibition of torture and ill treatment.

Upon the prevention of the İstanbul Governor's Office and Beyoğlu Sub-Governor's Office, a police attack was carried out against the group who gathered in Taksim for the 19th İstanbul LGBTI+ Pride March on June 26 International Day in Support of Victims of Torture.

Giving details about the police violence against the group, the İHD statement has noted that "using plastic bullets, the police battered and torturously detained over 40 people, including LGBTI+ Pride Week volunteers and journalist Bülent Kılıç." As indicated by the İHD, "one person was wounded in the face during the attack and detained in a wounded manner."

"Threatening even the ones objecting from their homes and demanding their detention, the police forced the restaurants and cafes in Mis Street to be closed," the İHD statement has said further.

Torture, ill treatment and impunity

Within this context, the İHD Women's Commission has raised concerns that "even though the right to hold a meeting and demonstration, which is guaranteed by both national and international conventions, is one of the most fundamental rights of a democratic society, this right has been denied to all opposition groups for arbitrary reasons."

In the face of the people and groups exercising this right, the law enforcement, exceeding its duty and authority, continues to act in such a way that it goes beyond the prohibition of torture and ill treatment. All these tortures and ill treatments end in impunity despite all applications and objections; torture and maltreatment are becoming a rule.

Reference to the İstanbul Convention

At this point, the İHD has also referred to Turkey's withdrawal from the İstanbul Convention, which will officially come into force on July 1:

It was announced that the İstanbul Convention, which was signed to protect LGBTI+s and women from violence and discrimination, was annulled one night and people are made vulnerable to violence. However, the annulment of the İstanbul Convention is null and void for LGBTI+s and women. We declare that we will keep standing together and side by side in the face of violence, discrimination, bans, disregard and hate.

Concluding the statement, the İHD Women's Commission has reiterated that "they are against torture and violations of freedom of expression, assembly, demonstration and association targeting the İstanbul Pride March and the peaceful demonstrations of LGBTI+s."

"Peaceful meeting and demonstration is a right; it cannot be banned," the İHD has said, calling on the authorities to "launch an investigation against all officials who violated the prohibition of torture and ill treatment and the state to abide by all international conventions it signed."

We recall that LGBTI+ rights are human rights and wish a happy LGBTI+ Pride Week.

(DSH/AÖ/SD)