'Students defending LGBTI+ rights in Turkey'

Click to read the article in Turkish

Amnesty International has called on the public in Turkey and the world to sign an online petition requesting the acquittal of 18 students and one academic who have been put on trial on the grounds that they joined the Middle East Technical University (METU) Pride Parade in 2019.

CLICK - Lawsuit Against 19 METU Students for Joining Pride Parade

18 students and one academic face up to 3 years in prison.

'The METU students are no exception'

Addressed to the Ministry of Justice, the petition of the organization says, "Students defending LGBTI+ rights in Turkey" and reads as follows:

"Students Melike and Özgür have dedicated themselves to defending lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI+) rights at their university. After being instructed not to go ahead with their annual Pride march on campus, they instead staged a sit-in on 10 May 2019. The university called the police who responded using excessive force, including tear gas, against the peaceful student protesters.

"Police arrested 23 students, including Melike and Özgür, as well as several who hadn't even taken part in the protest.

"It is unacceptable that of those 25 arrested, 18 METU university students are now facing prosecution for exercising their rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.

"Which is why I'm calling on you to ensure the students are acquitted and to conduct a prompt, independent and impartial investigation into the excessive use of force by police on campus on 10 May. Any police officers found to have acted unlawfully should be brought to justice.

"Everyone should have the right to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. The METU students are no exception."

Click to sign the petition in Turkish / English

What happened?

Entering the campus of the METU upon the call of the university presidency in 2019, the police intervened in the 9th METU LGBTI+ Pride Parade with pepper gas and rubber bullets. Over 20 students and one academic were detained. They were released later in the night.

A lawsuit has been filed against 18 students and one academic on the grounds that they joined the METU LGBTI+ Pride Parade on May 10, 2019. (SO/SD)