Written Question on Istanbul Gay Pride police attack

Met dank overgenomen van S.H. (Sophie) in 't Veld i, gepubliceerd op maandag 29 juni 2015.

On the 29th of June ALDE MEP's Sophie in 't Veld and Marietje Schaake Schaake tabled a written question to HR/VP Mogherini with the subject "Istanbul Gay Pride Parade attacked by police"

Please find the content of the letter below:

Yesterday, the Turkish police fired water cannon, tear gas and rubber pellets on pride march participants to end the annual gay pride in the centre of Istanbul. Peaceful demonstrations are increasingly dispersed through violent means in Turkey.

The police stopped the LGBTI activists gathering near Taksim Square and chased away hundreds of them. Organizers of the Istanbul 2015 Pride Week stated in a Facebook Post: "The 13th Istanbul LGBTI Pride Parade [..] has suddenly been banned by the Governorate using the month of Ramadan as the reasoning without any announcement." [1]

  • 1. 
    Does the HR/VP condemn the violent dispersal of the peaceful Gay Pride Parade in Istanbul, the largest gay pride event in the Muslim world?
  • 2. 
    What actions will the HR/VP take to secure the right to freedom of assembly and to combat homophobic actions by the authorities in this candidate EU Member State?
  • 3. 
    "The coming period offers opportunities for further strengthening the EU-Turkey relationship and to advance in broadening EU-Turkey cooperation in all fields, for the benefit of all our citizens", as stated by the HR/VP stated on 8 June. How will the HR/VP promote our European values and protect the enjoyment of all human rights by lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) persons in Turkey?

[1] https://m.facebook.com/prideistanbul/posts/716413681819581

Meer over ...