content tagged with LGBTI+ rights

İstanbul Pride Week banned

İstanbul Pride Week banned

All events within the scope of the 30th İstanbul LGBTI+ Pride Week have been banned by Beyoğlu and Kadıköy District Governorates.

Turkey again second-worst country for LGBTI+s in Europe

Turkey again second-worst country for LGBTI+s in Europe

For the last four years, Turkey ranks 48th in ILGA Europe's Rainbow Index, surpassing only Azerbaijan.

At least 298 people, including 74 children, detained during Diyarbakır Newroz

At least 298 people, including 74 children, detained during Diyarbakır Newroz

Okan Alptekin, a member of the Diyarbakır Bar Association LGBTI+ Rights Commission, says that women and LGBTI+s were subjected to discrimination while entering the Newroz site in Turkey’s Kurdish-majority Diyarbakır province.

Letter to Turkey’s Human Rights, Equality Institution: Abandon anti-LGBTI+ policies

Letter to Turkey’s Human Rights, Equality Institution: Abandon anti-LGBTI+ policies

The Kaos GL association has responded to the request of the Human Rights and Equality Institution of Turkey (TİHEK) for its reports regarding human rights violations and reminded the institution of its own anti-LGBTI+ practices.

LGBTI+s between Russia's hammer and Neo-Nazis' anvil

LGBTI+s between Russia's hammer and Neo-Nazis' anvil

The war of Russia, which carries out a destruction policy against LGBTI+s in its territory, means that this policy prevails in much wider lands.

3 March 2022 Yıldız Tar

Association raises concerns over LGBTI+s' life safety in Ukraine: 'No to war'

STATEMENT BY KAOS GL

Association raises concerns over LGBTI+s' life safety in Ukraine: 'No to war'

“We closely witnessed the oppression against LGBTI+s in the regions in the grip of Russia, who is the builder and the operator of hostile policies towards LGBTI+s,” says the Kaos GL association amid Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

25 February 2022

Sexual violence, threat against trans women in İstanbul

MALE VIOLENCE IN TARLABAŞI

Sexual violence, threat against trans women in İstanbul

Rights advocates will take legal action against the racketeering, sexual violence and threats against trans women in Taksim’s Tarlabaşı in Beyoğlu: "We don't deserve any of this. We want to live freely in our own country."

15 February 2022

Trans women fined over March 8 demonstration: ‘I will join it again’

Trans women fined over March 8 demonstration: ‘I will join it again’

Yusuf A. from the November 20 Platform was a part of the Trans+ cortege joining the women’s demonstration in İstanbul on March 6. After the demonstration, police detained five Kurdish trans people, who were later fined as per the Public Health Law.

11 February 2022 Ege Öztokat

Urgent action by Amnesty International for maltreated Iranian LGBTI+ rights defender

DETAINED NEAR TURKEY-IRAN BORDER

Urgent action by Amnesty International for maltreated Iranian LGBTI+ rights defender

Amnesty International notes that “the Revolutionary Guards arrested Zahra Sedighi-Hamadani, known as Sareh, on October 27, 2021 near Iran-Turkey border while she was attempting to irregularly enter Turkey to seek international protection.”

11 February 2022

Five trans women fined over March 8 demonstration

Five trans women fined over March 8 demonstration

Taken into custody with torture following the March 8 Women’s Day demonstration in İstanbul’s Kadıköy last year, five Kurdish trans women have been fined 3,500 lira as per the Law on Public Health.

9 February 2022

‘Pride March’ case against LGBTIQ+ Assemblies ends in acquittal

‘Pride March’ case against LGBTIQ+ Assemblies ends in acquittal

Eight LGBTI+ rights advocates were on trial for “violating the Law no. 2911 on Meetings and Demonstrations” because they joined the 2021 İstanbul Pride March. All activists have been acquitted at their final hearing.

8 February 2022

‘Our trans lives are valuable’: Rights groups to protest mounting hate attacks in İzmir

‘Our trans lives are valuable’: Rights groups to protest mounting hate attacks in İzmir

LGBTI+ and human rights organizations will organize a statement for the press in the face of recent hate attacks and murders targeting trans women in Turkey’s Aegean province of İzmir in the last two months.

27 January 2022

Campaign for LGBTI+s' political participation: ‘Turkey is ready for this'

Campaign for LGBTI+s' political participation: ‘Turkey is ready for this'

“Society is none other than ourselves. Turkey is ready for LGBTI+s. Turkey is ready for this,” says the Social Policy, Gender Identity and Sexual Orientation Studies Association (SPoD), launching a campaign for political participation.

21 January 2022

Appeals court increases man's prison term for attacking trans woman Asya

Appeals court increases man's prison term for attacking trans woman Asya

In the trial of the man who attacked Syrian refugee and trans woman Asya with acid, the appeals court has overturned the local court verdict and increased his prison sentence to 12 years. Lawyer Tosun has welcomed the appeals court ruling.

6 January 2022 Evrim Kepenek

Violations of rights peaked in 2021, shows CHP report on women

Violations of rights peaked in 2021, shows CHP report on women

According to main opposition CHP Vice Chair Biçer-Karaca’s report, women constituted one of the groups most severely affected by the increasing violations of rights during the COVID-19 pandemic and economic crisis in Turkey in 2021.

6 January 2022 Evrim Kepenek

Organized homophobic attack by neighbors in İstanbul

Organized homophobic attack by neighbors in İstanbul

Neighbors of B.K. attacked B.K. and B.K.’s friend in İstanbul’s Şişli. While B.K. was threatened at home, at least five men battered B.K.’s friend in front of the apartment.

15 December 2021

Media’s hate for the colors of the rainbow

RESILIENCE IN JOURNALISM ARTICLES - 3

Media’s hate for the colors of the rainbow

The hate and propaganda media has specifically targeted the LGBTI+ community during the Boğaziçi University protests. But how has the discriminatory and hateful news affected LGBTI+s? How should have Turkey’s media covered these stories?

15 December 2021 Selay Dalaklı

Lawsuit against four trans women standing on the street

Lawsuit against four trans women standing on the street

In the indictment brought against four trans women, it is cited as “criminal evidence” that their legs and breasts were visible; even their facial gestures are considered to constitute a “crime”. The women will have their first hearing on March 8 Women’s Day.

14 December 2021

Transphobic business owner, employee sentenced to prison for ‘discrimination’

Transphobic business owner, employee sentenced to prison for ‘discrimination’

Not letting three people in because they were trans and verbally assaulting them, the business owner and employee of the Köroğlu Tripe Restaurant have been sentenced to prison: “This is a great achievement. I tried hard to not applaud at court.”

10 December 2021 Efekan Akyüz

Perpetrators of violations of rights against LGBTI+s: Public authorities

REPORT

Perpetrators of violations of rights against LGBTI+s: Public authorities

Kaos GL Association’s 2020 Report of Human Rights of LGBTI+s has been published: “The perpetrators are often public authorities and legislators. Discrimination has become a systematic government policy.”

5 November 2021

METU Pride Parade case ends in acquittal

METU Pride Parade case ends in acquittal

All defendants who joined the Pride Parade at the Middle East Technical University in May 2019 have been acquitted. One person has been given a judicial fine for insult.

Transphobic defense by defendant’s lawyer at Hande Buse Şeker case

RETRIAL

Transphobic defense by defendant’s lawyer at Hande Buse Şeker case

The lawyer of Volkan H., who killed Hande Buse Şeker, made transphobic and sexist remarks at the first hearing of the retrial, arguing that she was “not a woman, but man.”

Turkey’s top court says trans woman’s right to respect for privacy violated

Turkey’s top court says trans woman’s right to respect for privacy violated

The Constitutional Court has concluded the application of a trans woman whose application for changing her name was rejected as “she didn’t have gender reassignment surgery and society might have wrong perceptions if she had a woman’s name.”

22 September 2021

Banned from profession, trans doctor to suit for reinstatement

Banned from profession, trans doctor to suit for reinstatement

Trans woman Dr. Larin Kayataş, who has been expelled from profession on the alleged ground of “disturbing public morality”, says that “her greatest wish is to return to her job”.

16 September 2021 Evrim Kepenek

Eight people from LGBTIQ+ Assemblies prosecuted over Pride March

Eight people from LGBTIQ+ Assemblies prosecuted over Pride March

LGBTIQ+ Assemblies have called on everyone to follow the first hearing of the court case filed against eight people for “violating the Law on Meetings and Demonstrations” during the İstanbul Pride March.

8 September 2021

Apple removes Hornet queer social network app from AppStore Turkey

Apple removes Hornet queer social network app from AppStore Turkey

Apple has removed the Hornet queer social network from AppStore Turkey “upon a court ruling.” Hornet has announced that it is trying to solve the problem in talks with the courts in Turkey and Apple.

Transphobic attack on woman in İstanbul’s Harbiye

Transphobic attack on woman in İstanbul’s Harbiye

A transphobic group verbally harassed trans woman Beren Ecmel in İstanbul’s Harbiye; afterwards, they attacked her with sharp objects. Ecmel has spoken to bianet: "My life is as sacred as anyone else's. I want this to be understood."

26 July 2021 Evrim Kepenek

‘We object to Can Candan’s dismissal from Boğaziçi University’

LGBTI+ FAMILY ORGANIZATIONS

‘We object to Can Candan’s dismissal from Boğaziçi University’

In a joint statement, five LGBTI+ family organizations have demanded that academic and documentary filmmaker Can Candan, who has been dismissed by the appointed rector, be reinstated in his job at Boğaziçi University.

The Aman Project: An open door for LGBTI+ refugees in Turkey

The Aman Project: An open door for LGBTI+ refugees in Turkey

We have talked to a Syrian LGBTI+ refugee and a volunteer of the Aman Project about the situation of LGBTI+ refugees in Turkey.

12 July 2021 Minel Ekmekçiler

‘We make ourselves heard even behind four walls’

1ST AYDIN PRIDE MARCH HINDERED

‘We make ourselves heard even behind four walls’

The first LGBTI+ Pride March to be held in Aydın province was prevented by the police, who blockaded the Özgecan Arslan Park, where the march would take place, and the Human Rights Association (İHD), where the preparations were ongoing.

12 July 2021 Dila Senem Haznedar

Six NGOs paint billboards in rainbow colors

Six NGOs paint billboards in rainbow colors

In protest against mounting pressure on the LGBTI+ community, the bans on Pride Marches and censorships on rainbow colors, six non-governmental organizations have formed a rainbow with their corporate colors in adjacent billboards.

Police intervention against Eskişehir Pride March: 30 people detained

Police intervention against Eskişehir Pride March: 30 people detained

The first Pride March to be held in Eskişehir was met with police intervention. Police took 30 people into custody before and after the march.

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