Turkey's closure of an LGBT organisation - a step away from the EU
June 5, 2008
Press release from the Intergroup on Gay and Lesbian Rights of the European Parliament regarding closure of Lambda Istanbul
"Turkey's closure of an LGBT organisation - a step away from the EU."
On 29 May a local court in Istanbul has ruled to close the LGBT organisation Lambdaistanbul. The ruling comes after a complaint filed by the City of Istanbul, which states that the aims of the association are against public morality.
The European Parliament's Intergroup on Gay and Lesbian Rights calls upon Turkey to respect its obligations arising from the European Convention on Human Rights, particularly rights to peaceful assembly and freedom of association of every Turkish citizen.
"This is an extremely worrying development", said Michael Cashman, President of the Intergroup. "This is a regressive step in terms of Turkey's accession to the European Union."
"It is a clear violation of Article 11 of the European Convention on Human Rights," said Sophie In´t Veld, Vice-President of the Intergroup for ALDE.
"Freedom of association is a human right of every person. You can not take this right away just because a person is homosexual, bisexual or transgender."
Lissy Gröner, Vice-President of the Intergroup for the PSE added, "If Turkey is to enter the EU, it should not forget that human rights are a part of aquis communautaire. We, the politicians in the European Parliament, will now pay a special attention to the respect of human rights of LGBT people in Turkey."
ENDS
For further information on the Intergroup please visit our website: http://www.lgbt-ep.eu
Representatives of European Parliament's Intergroup on Gay and Lesbian Rights:
President: Michael Cashman MEP (UK/PSE)
Vice-President: Lissy Gröner MEP (DE/PSE)
Vice-President: Sophie in 't Veld MEP (ALDE)
Vice-President: Raül Romeva MEP (G/EFA)
Vice-President: Sirpa Pietikäinen MEP (EPP-ED)
Press release from the Intergroup on Gay and Lesbian Rights of the European Parliament regarding closure of Lambda Istanbul
"Turkey's closure of an LGBT organisation - a step away from the EU."
On 29 May a local court in Istanbul has ruled to close the LGBT organisation Lambdaistanbul. The ruling comes after a complaint filed by the City of Istanbul, which states that the aims of the association are against public morality.
The European Parliament's Intergroup on Gay and Lesbian Rights calls upon Turkey to respect its obligations arising from the European Convention on Human Rights, particularly rights to peaceful assembly and freedom of association of every Turkish citizen.
"This is an extremely worrying development", said Michael Cashman, President of the Intergroup. "This is a regressive step in terms of Turkey's accession to the European Union."
"It is a clear violation of Article 11 of the European Convention on Human Rights," said Sophie In´t Veld, Vice-President of the Intergroup for ALDE.
"Freedom of association is a human right of every person. You can not take this right away just because a person is homosexual, bisexual or transgender."
Lissy Gröner, Vice-President of the Intergroup for the PSE added, "If Turkey is to enter the EU, it should not forget that human rights are a part of aquis communautaire. We, the politicians in the European Parliament, will now pay a special attention to the respect of human rights of LGBT people in Turkey."
ENDS
For further information on the Intergroup please visit our website: http://www.lgbt-ep.eu
Representatives of European Parliament's Intergroup on Gay and Lesbian Rights:
President: Michael Cashman MEP (UK/PSE)
Vice-President: Lissy Gröner MEP (DE/PSE)
Vice-President: Sophie in 't Veld MEP (ALDE)
Vice-President: Raül Romeva MEP (G/EFA)
Vice-President: Sirpa Pietikäinen MEP (EPP-ED)
