Gay Rights Upheld By Prosecution Again
The decision comes in response to an initiative made by the Bursa Governorship to have the association disbanded and locked down on grounds that the formation violated current association laws that governed no association could be founded with intentions against the law or public morality.
"Homosexuality is not an offense" said the final decision of the Prosecutor's Office basing its judgment of no proceedings on the European Convention on Human Rights.
"The founding members have stated that their intention was to come together in order to reach accord with the society and to defend their rights while explaining their identity, noting that they have not acted with a deliberate intention of offence" the Prosecutor's Office's decision said, after explaining that statements had been taken from individuals who were described as "suspects" by the Governorship.
The prosecution found no reason to restrict the foundation of this association having looked into the regulations of Gokkusagi and the decision itself said there was no offence committed nor was there any such limitation against forming an lawful association.
Signed by prosecutor Nazmi Guven, the decision concluded there was no need to prosecute any of the suspects nor to move to file a case for the closure of the association. Yet, the Governorship can still appeal against the decision within 15 days of being notified of it.
"Being gay is not immoral"
Last year, Deputy Governor Selahattin Ekremoglu of Turkey's capital Ankara had made a similar attempt to close down another well-known cultural association, the Kaos Gay and Lesbian Cultural Research and Solidarity Association (Kaos GL) on grounds that it was unlawful and against public morality.
The Prosecutor's Office of Ankara had then rejected Ekremoglu's complaint and in its opinion to the decision said "in an era where discrimination against sexual orientation is matter of debate, being gay is not immoral".(EZO/II/YE)