Original article: http://www.neurope.eu/article/ilg...lease-imprisoned-men-northern-cyprus

Former finance minister reportedly in detention for same-sex activity

The European Region of the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association (ILGA-Europe) sent a letter on 19 October to the president and prime minister of Northern Cyprus under Turkish administration demanding the immediate end to detaining men, to the immediate release of men detained, and to the dropping of charges against men being prosecuted of consensual, adult same-sex activity.

ILGA-Europe expressed several previous concerns about Article 171 of Chapter 154 of the Criminal Code, which criminalises consensual adult male same-sex sexual activity, and violates Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights. In July, and on 14 October 2011, there are reports of a total of five men being arrested for counts of “accusation of ‘unnatural intercourse’, suspicion of prostitution, having breached Article 171 of the Criminal Code, and ‘conspiracy to commit a felony’”.

One of the men was the former finance minister of the Republic of Cyprus.