EU must insist Turkey “respect LGBT people’s basic rights”

× Close window

Reader Comments

  1. Robert, ex-pat Brit  23 May 2008, 12:51pm  Report
    Thumb up 0Thumb down

    Not only Turkey, but every EU member that does not protect or provide equal treatment under the law for all LGBT people. Italy and Greece come to mind, why isn’t the EU addressing that?

    As for our own problems, we should also be revisiting our asylum policy, disgraceful to put it mildly.

    Check this article from The Independent.
    http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/leading-articles/leading-article-disgraceful-sexual-persecution-832808.html

    Post a reply →
  2. believe that Turkish laws will protect basic rights of lgbt people soon.

    Post a reply →
  3. Turkey should also be forced to stop torturing young Turkish boys in the barbaric circumcision rituals that most 4 to 12 year old boys are forced to endure.

    Post a reply →
  4. Robert, ex-pat Brit  25 May 2008, 2:09pm  Report
    Thumb up 0Thumb down

    Kerem, on what do you base that? It recently shut down the only LGBT office in that country. Turkey should be banned from joining the EU along with a few others that are already members that definitely warrant the “boot”, until they get some semblance of nondiscrimination legislation in place based on sexual orientation. They either conform as part of their membership or face exclusion or expulsion. About time the EU authorities took it seriously instead of pussy-footing around the issue. There will never be a united Europe if rogue nations like Turkey and others persist in denying basic civil and human rights to its gay citizens.

    Post a reply →
  5. Andrew Wells  31 May 2008, 3:11pm  Report
    Thumb up 0Thumb down

    Barbaric circumcision rituals?! OK, gay rights is one thing, but wtf? How on earth are they barbaric, let alone rituals. I myself got circumcised in Turkey (queues were too long in the UK), and all that really happened was that I went to hospital, they gave me anaesthetic and cut off my foreskin. Simple. Nothing else really happened.

    I know you may be against circumcision (like some other people are), but men get circumcised in Turkey for religious reasons; it is a requirement stated in the Kuran, and as such I’m not against it at all.

    Post a reply →
  6. Andrew Wells  31 May 2008, 3:13pm  Report
    Thumb up 0Thumb down

    And by the way, Robert, its not the only LGBT office in the country, there are about three others, aswell, most notably KAOS-GL in Ankara, which also faced a court case three years ago, but won.

    Post a reply →

Add your comment

These comments are un-moderated and do not necessarily represent the views of PinkNews.co.uk. If you believe that a comment is inappropriate or libellous please click "Report" or email us. Terms and Conditions · Privacy Policy