Ahead of tomorrow’s planned student Pride march at the Middle East Technical University – cancelled by the university’s rector under the blanket ban of LGBTI events by Ankara’s city authorities – Fotis Filippou, Amnesty International’s Campaigns Director for Europe said:
“For the last seven years students at this university have marched through their campus in support of LGBTI rights. Rather than banning Pride events, university and city authorities should be supporting and protecting such marches. Students must be allowed to march without fear of intimidation or violence.”
“It is not just this university’s march that is under threat. Such bans have been used to reverse a once progressive trend to counter homophobia and transphobia in Turkey.”
Background
Ahead of the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia (IDAHOT) on 17 May, Amnesty International are calling on Ankara Governor to reverse the blanket ban on all LGBTI events in Ankara.
Turkish authorities must to ensure that lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) individuals and their allies are able to enjoy their rights to freedom of expression and assembly without fear of intimidation or violence.
Spokespeople are available for interview on the ground
MEDIA CONTACT: Jacob Kuehn, Media Relations, 613-744-7667 x 236 / jkuehn@amnesty.ca
