Bans of LGBTI Events Brought to Constitutional Court

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Kaos GL, the LGBTI association in the capital city of Ankara, has appealed to the Constitutional Court regarding Ankara Governorship's decision to indefinitely ban the LGBTI events.

As reported by Yıldız Tar from Kaos GL, after the 4th Ankara Administrative Court rejected the demand of Kaos GL for a reversal of decision and suspension of execution, the association has brought Ankara Governorship's indefinite ban on LGBTI events to the Constitutional Court.

Stating that the ban has been violating the freedom of expression, right to form association and freedom of assembly, Kaos GL has emphasized that with the ban on LGBTI events, a discrimination offence is being committed and with the Administrative Court's decision to reject the demand for suspension of execution, the right to a free trial is also being violated.

Kaos GL has demanded that the Constitutional Court rule for an interim measure and suspend the decision of the Governorship as a precaution on the ground that "the violation has made an irrecoverable impact, caused an open damage and is a serious rights violation."

What happened?

Ankara Governorship banned the events to be held by "LGBTI NGOs" indefinitely on the pretext of "public morality" and "social sensitivity and sensibilities" on November 19, 2017.

The Governorship banned German LGBTI Film Days on November following some tweets posted with the hashtags #LGBTFilmGünleriİptalEdilsin (#MayLGBTFilmDaysBeCancelled) and #İstiklalimizeKaraLeke (#BlackMarkOnOurFreedom).

The 11th leg of the Gender-Based Journalism Workshop carried out by the International Press Service (IPS) Communication Foundation with the support of Kaos GL, was cancelled as well as it was targeted by the media. The workshop was planned to be held on November 18, in Turkey's southeastern province of Mardin.

On November 30, the LGBTI organizations Kaos GL and Pembe Hayat in Ankara separately filed lawsuits against Ankara Governorship banning all LGBTI events indefinitely for the decision to be revoked and the execution to be suspended.

On February 22, 2018, Ankara 4th and 13th Administrative Courts respectively issued decisions of refusal in lawsuits brought by Kaos GL and Pink Life Association on the grounds that "the decision of banning will not cause unrecoverable consequence and it is not openly contravening law." (BK/SD)