Gay Rights Upheld By Prosecution Again
13/10/2006
By
ILGA-Europe
Public Prosecutor's Office rejects request from Bursa Governorship to close
down Rainbow Association saying "homosexuality is not an offence" and
reiterates that there will be no prosecution with a reference to the
European Convention on Human Rights.
BYA (Istanbul) - The Public Prosecutor's Office has formally rejected the
appeal to close down the Association to Protect Transvestites, Transsexuals,
Gays and Lesbians and Develop Cultural Activities - known shortly as the The
Rainbow Association (Gokkusagi Dernegi).
The decision comes in response to an initiative made by the Bursa
Governorship to have the association disbanded and locked down on grounds
that the formation violated current association laws that governed no
association could be founded with intentions against the law or public
morality.
"Homosexuality is not an offense" said the final decision of the
Prosecutor's Office basing its judgment of no proceedings on the European
Convention on Human Rights.
"The founding members have stated that their intention was to come together
in order to reach accord with the society and to defend their rights while
explaining their identity, noting that they have not acted with a deliberate
intention of offence" the Prosecutor's Office's decision said, after
explaining that statements had been taken from individuals who were
described as "suspects" by the Governorship.
The prosecution found no reason to restrict the foundation of this
association having looked into the regulations of Gokkusagi and the decision
itself said there was no offence committed nor was there any such limitation
against forming an lawful association.
Signed by prosecutor Nazmi Guven, the decision concluded there was no need
to prosecute any of the suspects nor to move to file a case for the closure
of the association. Yet, the Governorship can still appeal against the
decision within 15 days of being notified of it.
"Being gay is not immoral"
Last year, Deputy Governor Selahattin Ekremoglu of Turkey's capital Ankara
had made a similar attempt to close down another well-known cultural
association, the Kaos Gay and Lesbian Cultural Research and Solidarity
Association (Kaos GL) on grounds that it was unlawful and against public
morality.
The Prosecutor's Office of Ankara had then rejected Ekremoglu's complaint
and in its opinion to the decision said "in an era where discrimination
against sexual orientation is matter of debate, being gay is not
immoral".(EZO/II/YE)
BIA News Center
http://www.bianet.org/2006/10/01_eng/news86363.htm
down Rainbow Association saying "homosexuality is not an offence" and
reiterates that there will be no prosecution with a reference to the
European Convention on Human Rights.
BYA (Istanbul) - The Public Prosecutor's Office has formally rejected the
appeal to close down the Association to Protect Transvestites, Transsexuals,
Gays and Lesbians and Develop Cultural Activities - known shortly as the The
Rainbow Association (Gokkusagi Dernegi).
The decision comes in response to an initiative made by the Bursa
Governorship to have the association disbanded and locked down on grounds
that the formation violated current association laws that governed no
association could be founded with intentions against the law or public
morality.
"Homosexuality is not an offense" said the final decision of the
Prosecutor's Office basing its judgment of no proceedings on the European
Convention on Human Rights.
"The founding members have stated that their intention was to come together
in order to reach accord with the society and to defend their rights while
explaining their identity, noting that they have not acted with a deliberate
intention of offence" the Prosecutor's Office's decision said, after
explaining that statements had been taken from individuals who were
described as "suspects" by the Governorship.
The prosecution found no reason to restrict the foundation of this
association having looked into the regulations of Gokkusagi and the decision
itself said there was no offence committed nor was there any such limitation
against forming an lawful association.
Signed by prosecutor Nazmi Guven, the decision concluded there was no need
to prosecute any of the suspects nor to move to file a case for the closure
of the association. Yet, the Governorship can still appeal against the
decision within 15 days of being notified of it.
"Being gay is not immoral"
Last year, Deputy Governor Selahattin Ekremoglu of Turkey's capital Ankara
had made a similar attempt to close down another well-known cultural
association, the Kaos Gay and Lesbian Cultural Research and Solidarity
Association (Kaos GL) on grounds that it was unlawful and against public
morality.
The Prosecutor's Office of Ankara had then rejected Ekremoglu's complaint
and in its opinion to the decision said "in an era where discrimination
against sexual orientation is matter of debate, being gay is not
immoral".(EZO/II/YE)
BIA News Center
http://www.bianet.org/2006/10/01_eng/news86363.htm
