Human Rights Watch ain't monkeying around with Turkey.
The international non-profit today blasted the nation's government for an April raid on gay group Lambda Istanbul. On April 7th, Turkish officials reportedly raided Lambda's main base on grounds that the group "facilitates prostitution, acts as a go-between [and] provides a place for [prostitution]." Then, ten days later, Lambda was in court defending itself against the government's immorality charges. Now, HRW's coming out to fight for the gays.
Said activist Scott Long:
What’s really immoral is the Istanbul authorities’ campaign against Lambda Istanbul for protecting the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people. The government should reform laws that allow officials to harass groups like Lambda Istanbul in order to guarantee everyone’s human rights.
The government, we're sure, couldn't care less…
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There are two sides, really, to this news for me. On the one hand, the abuse of gay people anyway is always bad. But, obvious human rights infringements like this, push Turkey further and further away from entry into the EU. It's bad enough having to deal with homophobic Poland and the Baltics, but adding a primarily Muslim country to the mix would really, severely hurt gay rights progress within the EU.
i can't believe these sort of attitudes are still happening in 21st century!!!!
gay rights are human rights! you turkish police need to get a life …
the turkish government has been pushing for islamic republic idealisim like IRAN! and we all know what the hec iranian government does to gay people in that country! they hang them in public labeling them "act of sodom" !!! whae are these islamic foundamentalists will wake up to themselves and embracee HUMAN RIGHTS?!?!?!