Turkey responds to UN letter about LGBTI+s without mentioning them

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Turkey responded to a United Nations letter about rights violations against LGBTI+s without mentioning LGBTI+s, according to a report by Kaos GL.

On July 22, several UN officials, including the Independent Expert on sexual orientation and gender identity, the Special Rapporteur on the Rights to Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and of Association, the Special Rapporteur on the Promotion and Protection of the Right to Freedom of
Opinion and Expression, the Special Rapporteur on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms while countering terrorism, wrote a letter about rights violations against LGBTI+s in Turkey.

the letter included a Friday sermon by the Presidency of Religious Affairs targeting LGBTI+s, hate campaigns on social media, public officials' statements targeting LGBTI+s, investigations against those who defend LTBGI+ rights and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's speech against LGBTI+s.

The letter asked whether Turkey launched investigations into the alleged hate crime incidents and took the measures for rights defenders to carry out activities without threats.

In its response on September 21, Turkey did not respond to the questions but said, the "etc." in the Constitution article about equality includes other reasons of discrimination in addition to those that were openly stated in the law.

The government said that Turkey's laws on discrimination were sufficient.

In the response letter, the words, "LTBGI+," "sexual orientation", "gender" were not included. (EMK/VK)