While Turkey’s debating the Armenian genocide, Human Rights Watch’s debating gay rights in the Middle Eastern nation. The international non-profit released a statement challenging Istanbul governor Muammer Güler’s crackdown on queer group Lambda Istanbul:
Shutting down groups because you don’t like the people they represent is an attack on freedom itself. If organizations that defend human rights cannot function, Turkey’s status as a real democracy is in danger.
Güler and his allies claim the group violates the Turkish Civil Code and constitutional Article 41, which upholds “family” values. Lambda Istanbul’s also accused of violating Article 56, “No association may be founded for purposes against law and morality.” Perhaps Turkey should consider that article during it’s Iraq invasion vote.
The hearings against Lambda Istanbul begin tomorrow.
