During this summer Turkish authorities have Seta send a protest letter to Turkish authorities Sebahattin Öztürk and Ahmet Davutoğlu on regards of ill-treatment suffered by human rights defender Kemal Ördek and participants of LGBT Pride Parade.
Additional information on LGBTI News Turkey:
Raped and assaulted, LGBTI activist Kemal Ördek says: “I´m not well…”
4th of August at Helsinki
Dear Sebahattin Öztürk and Ahmet Davutoğlu
We are writing to express our concern over the ill-treatment suffered by Kemal Ördek, human rights defender and founder of the Red Umbrella Sexual Health and Human Rights Association, together with hir lawyer at Esat Police Station in Ankara.
Ördek, an internationally highly respected defender of transgender and sex worker rights, was a victim of sexual assault, theft, threats and insults by three men in hir house on 5 July 2015. Ördek managed to run to a police patrol car when the perpetrators took hir to the ATM to take out money. The threatening behaviour of the perpetrators towards Ördek continued in the police vehicle and at the police station.
The police did not take the assault seriously, insulted Ördek, colluded with the perpetrators and released them without carrying out an effective investigation. After their release the perpetrators continued to harass Ördek via phone.
We call on the authorities to carry out a thorough investigation into the events of 5 July and the actions of the police, and ensure that Kemal Ördek receives appropriate protection against threats.
We are concerned over the safety of Kemal Ördek and will continue to follow the investigation process.
Furthermore, we are deeply concerned that police used unwarranted force, using tear gas, water cannons and rubber pellets against individuals who were peacefully assembling for the Istanbul LGBT Pride Parade on 27 June 2015.
We call on the Turkish government and authorities to combat all forms of discrimination and violence against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) people and sex workers, and ensure that all victims of crime are treated with respect and dignity and their cases taken seriously.
We call on you to do everything in your influence to ensure that the human rights of LGBTI individuals and sex workers, as set out in the international treaties and standards to which Turkey is committed, are respected.
Sincerely,
Panu Mäenpää
Chair of the Board