Turkse politie gebruikt buitensporig geweld om Pride demonstratie op te breken

Source: E.N.A.J. (Liesje) Schreinemacher i, published on Thursday, July 1 2021.

On June 26th, the Turkish police used rubber bullets and fired tear gas to disrupt the annual Pride march to support LGBTIQ+-rights in Istanbul, intensifying a crackdown on the march at a time of rising government hostility towards LGBTQ individuals in Turkey[1]

In recent years, the Turkish authorities have consistently supressed the Pride march. The LGBTIQ-equality strategy, that was published by the Commission in November 2020, states that ‘LGBTIQ rights are human rights and LGBTIQ people should be able to fully enjoy their rights everywhere, at all times’[2]. The Commission report on Turkey[3] furthermore confirms that hate crime and violations of human rights of LGBTI persons is 'still a matter of serious concern', and that hate speech against LGBTI people is not effectively prosecuted. Earlier this year, students were arrested for an artwork with LGBT flags and a students’ LGBT club was shut down[4].

  • 1. 
    Is the Commission currently involved in a dialogue with Turkey to address the discriminatory practices against LGBTIQ-people?
  • 2. 
    Which further steps will the Commission undertake to address the deteriorating situation of LGBTIQ-people in Turkey?
  • 3. 
    What will be the impact of these developments on Turkey’s accession process to the European Union?

[1] https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/turkish-police-fire-tear-gas-disperse-pride-march-istanbul-2021-06-26/

[2] https://ec.europa.eu/info/policies/justice-and-fundamental-rights/combatting-discrimination/lesbian-gay-bi-trans-and-intersex-equality/lgbtiq-equality-strategy-2020-2025_en

[3] https://ec.europa.eu/neighbourhood-enlargement/sites/near/files/turkey_report_2020.pdf

[4] https://www.hrw.org/news/2021/02/18/turkey-student-protesters-risk-prosecution

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