Agression in Riga: “Shameful” and “Pure Homophobia”
Statement by Baroness Sarah Ludford, MEP, the Liberal Democrat spokeswoman on European justice and a Member of the European Parliament’s ‘Intergroup’ on gay and lesbian rights.
“This is pure homophobia and a deplorable violation of the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.
“European human rights law obliges Latvia to respect the right to freedom of assembly and expression, she continued. “Thus the Riga authorities must take active measures to protect march participants.
“This unacceptable discrimination against gay people in parts of ‘new Europe’ must be speedily ended.
“The European Commission should instigate action against Latvia for failing to respect EU laws on freedom, dignity and equal rights for all citizens,” she insisted. “European laws must also be strengthened to include measures for combating homophobic hate crime.”
