Letter to European Officials about the New Turkish Penal Code
Kaos GL issued press statement and mailed a letter to representatives of some European political figures. In the letter Kaos GL asked them to persuade Turkish government officials and the Turkish Parliament to make amendments to the Penal Law in order to address discrimination and oppression toward Turkish LGBT people.
LETTER:
As members of Kaos GL, the largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) organization in Turkey, we are deeply concerned that the Turkish Justice Commission and the Turkish Parliament have refused to respond to the petitions for equality by the LGBT community in order to address discrimination and oppression.
Turkish government officials claim that the penal code legislation was drafted to increase rights and freedoms and bring the Turkish justice system in line with European Union standards. But we don’t think the new Penal Code will bring any freedom to Turkish LGBT community.
Since the implementation of the new Turkish Penal Code has been delayed until June 1, 2005, we urge you to persuade Turkish government officials and the Turkish Parliament to make the following amendments to the draft law:
· Ban and criminalize discrimination based on sexual orientation
· Remove the article penalizing consensual sexual relations between young people of 15 – 18 years of age. (which conflicts with the Children's Rights Protocol and the Global Declaration on Human Rights, both ratified by Turkey)
· Amend the “obscenity” article by clearly defining acts of “obscenity”
Attached is the English translation of our latest press statement regarding this issue.
Sincerely yours,
LETTER ADDRESSED TO:
Joseph Borrell Fontelles, President of the European Parliament
Jose Manuel Barroso, President of European Commission
Olli Rehn, European Commission, Commissioner for Enlargement
Vladimír Špidla, European Commission, Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities
Ambassador Hansjörg Kretschmer, Delegation of the European Commission to Turkey
Javier Solana, Secretary-General of the Council of the EU
Paul Richmond, an expert on Turkey of the ICJ
Michael Cashman MEP, European Office, West Midlands Labour Party
PRESS STATEMENT:
LETTER:
As members of Kaos GL, the largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) organization in Turkey, we are deeply concerned that the Turkish Justice Commission and the Turkish Parliament have refused to respond to the petitions for equality by the LGBT community in order to address discrimination and oppression.
Turkish government officials claim that the penal code legislation was drafted to increase rights and freedoms and bring the Turkish justice system in line with European Union standards. But we don’t think the new Penal Code will bring any freedom to Turkish LGBT community.
Since the implementation of the new Turkish Penal Code has been delayed until June 1, 2005, we urge you to persuade Turkish government officials and the Turkish Parliament to make the following amendments to the draft law:
· Ban and criminalize discrimination based on sexual orientation
· Remove the article penalizing consensual sexual relations between young people of 15 – 18 years of age. (which conflicts with the Children's Rights Protocol and the Global Declaration on Human Rights, both ratified by Turkey)
· Amend the “obscenity” article by clearly defining acts of “obscenity”
Attached is the English translation of our latest press statement regarding this issue.
Sincerely yours,
LETTER ADDRESSED TO:
Joseph Borrell Fontelles, President of the European Parliament
Jose Manuel Barroso, President of European Commission
Olli Rehn, European Commission, Commissioner for Enlargement
Vladimír Špidla, European Commission, Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities
Ambassador Hansjörg Kretschmer, Delegation of the European Commission to Turkey
Javier Solana, Secretary-General of the Council of the EU
Paul Richmond, an expert on Turkey of the ICJ
Michael Cashman MEP, European Office, West Midlands Labour Party
PRESS STATEMENT:
