Istanbul Police Department Must Eliminate Arbitrary Practices
Press Release
19.07.2007
Commission for Monitoring Human Rights of LGBTT Persons and Law
Gays, Bisexuals, Transvestites and Transsexuals are Subjected to Ill-Treatment and Torture through Police Raids in Gay and Transvestite-Transsexual Places
We, as the Commission for Monitoring Human Rights of LGBTT Persons and Law, had stated in our press release on 15 June 2007 that we are concerned about an increase in violations targeting LGBTT persons as a result of the amendments made in Police Duties and Authorities Law…
We had declared that the right to life, the right to security and freedoms, the right to privacy of home, the right to privacy and the right to association would be violated more with the amendments made in Police Duties and Authorities Law…
Even before 24 hours after the press release, the police raided gay and transvestite bars in Istanbul.
On 16 June 2007, police officers from Istanbul Beyoglu Police Department raided two different places which are mostly visited by homosexuals and transsexuals. Individuals were expelled from the bar with threats of pepper spray and batton and some of them were harassed with battons and subjected to ill-treatment. When individuals who were forcibly expelled from the bar responded with clapping after they were asked to dissolve, the police harassed them with battons. Later, the police went hunting for transvestites and homosexuals and they attacked on the transvestite and homosexual persons they have noticed.
We Call LGBTT Persons who were Subjected to Ill-Treatment and Torture to Seek Their Rights!
As Kaos GL, Lambdaistanbul and Pink Life organizations we will give all kinds of legal support to those who were subjected to insult, violence, and ill-treatment by the police on 16 June 2007 evening. If we do not seek for our rights as LGBTT individuals, the attitudes of the perpetrators will become tougher.
We call authorities to take action!
We call the Human Rights Advisory Board of Istanbul Governorship, Istanbul Public Prosecutors’ Office, the Parliamentary Commission on Human Rights Monitoring, and the Prime Minister’s Council of Human Rights to investigate, search and monitor the human rights violations against LGBTT persons. We will not be quiet against being prevented from our basic rights of being a human with any arbitrary practices. Public bodies working in human rights bodies must quit ignoring violations against us.
We will not be quiet for human rights violations against LGBTT persons!
Commission for Monitoring Human Rights of LGBTT Persons and Law
Kaos GL Kulturel Arastirmalar ve Dayanisma Dernegi
Kaos GL Izmir
Lambdaistanbul LGBTT Solidarity Association
Eskisehir LGBTT Initiative
Pink Life LGBTT Solidarity Association
Contact for LGBTT Human Rights Violations: lgbtthaklari@gmail.com
Lambdaistanbul LGBTT Dayanisma Dernegi
Tel: +90 (0) 212 245 70 68
Istiklal Caddesi, Buyukparmakkapi Sokak, Halas Apt. 20/4
Beyoglu - Istanbul
www.lambdaistanbul.org
lambda@lambdaistanbul.org
19.07.2007
Commission for Monitoring Human Rights of LGBTT Persons and Law
Gays, Bisexuals, Transvestites and Transsexuals are Subjected to Ill-Treatment and Torture through Police Raids in Gay and Transvestite-Transsexual Places
We, as the Commission for Monitoring Human Rights of LGBTT Persons and Law, had stated in our press release on 15 June 2007 that we are concerned about an increase in violations targeting LGBTT persons as a result of the amendments made in Police Duties and Authorities Law…
We had declared that the right to life, the right to security and freedoms, the right to privacy of home, the right to privacy and the right to association would be violated more with the amendments made in Police Duties and Authorities Law…
Even before 24 hours after the press release, the police raided gay and transvestite bars in Istanbul.
On 16 June 2007, police officers from Istanbul Beyoglu Police Department raided two different places which are mostly visited by homosexuals and transsexuals. Individuals were expelled from the bar with threats of pepper spray and batton and some of them were harassed with battons and subjected to ill-treatment. When individuals who were forcibly expelled from the bar responded with clapping after they were asked to dissolve, the police harassed them with battons. Later, the police went hunting for transvestites and homosexuals and they attacked on the transvestite and homosexual persons they have noticed.
We Call LGBTT Persons who were Subjected to Ill-Treatment and Torture to Seek Their Rights!
As Kaos GL, Lambdaistanbul and Pink Life organizations we will give all kinds of legal support to those who were subjected to insult, violence, and ill-treatment by the police on 16 June 2007 evening. If we do not seek for our rights as LGBTT individuals, the attitudes of the perpetrators will become tougher.
We call authorities to take action!
We call the Human Rights Advisory Board of Istanbul Governorship, Istanbul Public Prosecutors’ Office, the Parliamentary Commission on Human Rights Monitoring, and the Prime Minister’s Council of Human Rights to investigate, search and monitor the human rights violations against LGBTT persons. We will not be quiet against being prevented from our basic rights of being a human with any arbitrary practices. Public bodies working in human rights bodies must quit ignoring violations against us.
We will not be quiet for human rights violations against LGBTT persons!
Commission for Monitoring Human Rights of LGBTT Persons and Law
Kaos GL Kulturel Arastirmalar ve Dayanisma Dernegi
Kaos GL Izmir
Lambdaistanbul LGBTT Solidarity Association
Eskisehir LGBTT Initiative
Pink Life LGBTT Solidarity Association
Contact for LGBTT Human Rights Violations: lgbtthaklari@gmail.com
Lambdaistanbul LGBTT Dayanisma Dernegi
Tel: +90 (0) 212 245 70 68
Istiklal Caddesi, Buyukparmakkapi Sokak, Halas Apt. 20/4
Beyoglu - Istanbul
www.lambdaistanbul.org
lambda@lambdaistanbul.org
