In Turkey, One-year Prison Term for Discrimination Based on Sexual Orientation
The draft Penal Code is currently under review at the Parliamentary Justice Commission. During its deliberations on January 29, 2004, the Commission decided to add “sexual orientation” to the “discrimination clause.” This clause will allow for the imposition of a 6-month to 1-year jail term for those who discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation.
In Turkey, One-year Prison Term for Discrimination Based on Sexual Orientation:
TURKEY, The Penal Code Draft Law, submitted to the Turkish parliament in May 2003, is currently under review at the Parliamentary Justice Commission. After the last meeting on January 29, 2004, the Commission decided to add “sexual orientation” to the “discrimination clause” which will prosecute people with a 6-month to 1-year jail term if they discriminate others based on sexual orientation
Parliamentary Justice Commission finally took homosexuals into consideration and decided to consider discrimination against gays and lesbians a crime. One who commits this crime will be subject to 6 months to 1-year jail term or money fine. Justice Commission, gathered on January 29, 2004, decided to review the “discrimination” clause in the Penal Code Draft Law. An amendment, unanimously agreed, specified “discrimination based on sexual orientation” a crime. With this amendment people who refuse to serve gays or lesbians; or prevent gays or lesbians from buying or renting a place will be subject to various penalties. The amendment specifically prohibits below-stated actions and regards them as crimes:
·Consideration of sexual orientation while trading (selling or buying)
·Preventing someone from getting any type of service based on sexual orientation
·Discrimination in employment opportunities based on sexual orientation
·Not feeding someone because of his/her sexual orientation
·Denying public service based on sexual orientation
·Harming a person’s financial condition based on sexual orientation
If the Draft Law is approved by Parliament, Turkey would become the first Muslim territory to recognize gay and lesbians and to ban discrimination against them. The draft, which is expected be ready for parliamentary review by mid 2004, also addresses other human rights concerns.
Leading Turkish gay activist groups welcomed the amendment. Lambda Istanbul thanked to the MPs who are involved in this process and called the Turkish Parliament to support “Brazilian resolution on discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity” which will be a hot debate at the 60th Session of the UN Commission on Human Rights in Geneva. The session will take place from the 15th of March to the 23rd of April 2004.
Links about this news:
1- International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (in English) http://www.iglhrc.org/site/iglhrc/section.php?id=5&detail=484
2- Lifesite, Canada (in English) http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2004/mar/04030204.html
3- Lambda Istanbul Briefing (in Turkish): http://www.gencim.net/bugun/haber_oku.asp?haber=1729725080&kategori=11&alt_kategori=&tasarim_kodu=1br>4- Sabah Newspaper (in Turkish): http://www.sabah.com.tr/2004/01/30/siy107.htmlbr>5- Milliyet Newspaper (in Turkish): http://www.milliyet.com.tr/2004/01/30/siyaset/siy20.htmlbr>6- A Turkish law web site (in Turkish): http://www.turkhukuksitesi.com/hukukforum/showthread.php?s=cb03d92c7d52e26f7a88b05ecaa9f8b9&threadid=3144br>7- Hurriyet Newspaper (in Turkish) http://www.hurriyetim.com.tr/haber/0,,sid~5@tarih~2004-01-31-t@nvid~364284,00.asp
Information about leading Turkish Gay Organizations:
1- KAOS GL:
Web site: http://www.kaosgl.com/english/index.htmlbr>E-mail: dergi@kaosgl.com
2- LAMBDA ISTANBUL:
Web site: http://www.lambdaistanbul.orgbr>E-mail: lambda@lambdaistanbul.org
Tel/Fax: (international code) 212 245 70 68 (between 15:00 - 20:00/ 3:00 PM-8:00 PM)
3- LEGATO:
Web site: http://www.e-legato.org/english.htmlbr>E-mail: info@e-legato.org
In Turkey, One-year Prison Term for Discrimination Based on Sexual Orientation:
TURKEY, The Penal Code Draft Law, submitted to the Turkish parliament in May 2003, is currently under review at the Parliamentary Justice Commission. After the last meeting on January 29, 2004, the Commission decided to add “sexual orientation” to the “discrimination clause” which will prosecute people with a 6-month to 1-year jail term if they discriminate others based on sexual orientation
Parliamentary Justice Commission finally took homosexuals into consideration and decided to consider discrimination against gays and lesbians a crime. One who commits this crime will be subject to 6 months to 1-year jail term or money fine. Justice Commission, gathered on January 29, 2004, decided to review the “discrimination” clause in the Penal Code Draft Law. An amendment, unanimously agreed, specified “discrimination based on sexual orientation” a crime. With this amendment people who refuse to serve gays or lesbians; or prevent gays or lesbians from buying or renting a place will be subject to various penalties. The amendment specifically prohibits below-stated actions and regards them as crimes:
·Consideration of sexual orientation while trading (selling or buying)
·Preventing someone from getting any type of service based on sexual orientation
·Discrimination in employment opportunities based on sexual orientation
·Not feeding someone because of his/her sexual orientation
·Denying public service based on sexual orientation
·Harming a person’s financial condition based on sexual orientation
If the Draft Law is approved by Parliament, Turkey would become the first Muslim territory to recognize gay and lesbians and to ban discrimination against them. The draft, which is expected be ready for parliamentary review by mid 2004, also addresses other human rights concerns.
Leading Turkish gay activist groups welcomed the amendment. Lambda Istanbul thanked to the MPs who are involved in this process and called the Turkish Parliament to support “Brazilian resolution on discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity” which will be a hot debate at the 60th Session of the UN Commission on Human Rights in Geneva. The session will take place from the 15th of March to the 23rd of April 2004.
Links about this news:
1- International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (in English) http://www.iglhrc.org/site/iglhrc/section.php?id=5&detail=484
2- Lifesite, Canada (in English) http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2004/mar/04030204.html
3- Lambda Istanbul Briefing (in Turkish): http://www.gencim.net/bugun/haber_oku.asp?haber=1729725080&kategori=11&alt_kategori=&tasarim_kodu=1br>4- Sabah Newspaper (in Turkish): http://www.sabah.com.tr/2004/01/30/siy107.htmlbr>5- Milliyet Newspaper (in Turkish): http://www.milliyet.com.tr/2004/01/30/siyaset/siy20.htmlbr>6- A Turkish law web site (in Turkish): http://www.turkhukuksitesi.com/hukukforum/showthread.php?s=cb03d92c7d52e26f7a88b05ecaa9f8b9&threadid=3144br>7- Hurriyet Newspaper (in Turkish) http://www.hurriyetim.com.tr/haber/0,,sid~5@tarih~2004-01-31-t@nvid~364284,00.asp
Information about leading Turkish Gay Organizations:
1- KAOS GL:
Web site: http://www.kaosgl.com/english/index.htmlbr>E-mail: dergi@kaosgl.com
2- LAMBDA ISTANBUL:
Web site: http://www.lambdaistanbul.orgbr>E-mail: lambda@lambdaistanbul.org
Tel/Fax: (international code) 212 245 70 68 (between 15:00 - 20:00/ 3:00 PM-8:00 PM)
3- LEGATO:
Web site: http://www.e-legato.org/english.htmlbr>E-mail: info@e-legato.org
