Turkey is ignoring cases of harassment, discrimination and violence against LGBT people, according to a just-released Amnesty International report. Amnesty is urging Turkey's new government to draw up laws against discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation and to punish those found guilty of of homophobic attacks. Turkish politicians frequently make explicitly homophobic statements. For instance, , the women’s minister Aliye Kavaf last year said: “I believe homosexual is a biological disorder, an illness, and must be treated.” The report says that gay people in Turkey, a predominantly Muslim country, are often forced to hide their sexual orientation to avoid harassment, discrimination or violence. Sixteen people were murdered in Turkey last year because of their perceived sexual orientation, and violence is pervasive. Transgender women, who often have no other option but to work as prostitutes, are particularly threatened. Unlike most Muslim countries Turkish law has never criminalised homosexuality but LGBT people are frequently discriminated against in criminal and civil processes on the basis of “immoral behaviour”. The Amnesty report was released at the start of Intanbul Gay pride week which runs until this weekend.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Wednesday, 22nd June 2011 - 12:03pm