I’ve previously made a couple of posts (here and here) about the closure threat facing the Black Pink Triangle Association.
Via Kaos-GL, I understand that the case finally reached the courts earlier this week, only to be adjourned after the first hearing. Andrew Gardner, Amnesty International’s Turkey researcher, was present as an observer at the courts and said:
“The decision to adjourn the hearing rather than dismiss this baseless and discriminatory case is a signal that the judicial harassment of LGBT associations continues”
And there is certainly a lot of history to support the claim of state harassment: cases have been brought against Kaos-GL (2005), Pembe Hayat (2006) and last year (2009) Lambda Istanbul won its appeal against closure after a four-year legal fight.
In the trial [...] lawyers for Black Pink Triangle association called on the court to uphold the right to freedom of association.
The public prosecutor stated that if the authorities did not audit associations such as the Black Pink Triangle, it “would turn social life into anarchy”.
The case was adjourned until 20 April after the judge said there had been letters from abroad regarding the case that he wanted translated before continuing.
Outside the court, Black Pink Triangle association issued a statement criticizing the authorities for attempting to close an LGBT association at a time when LGBT people are victims of hate crimes in Turkey.
“The only way for LGBT people to resist the oppression, isolation and marginalization in social life due to their sexual orientation and gender identity is through solidarity and coming together,” said the Black Pink Triangle spokesperson.
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Previous posts related to the continuing war against trans women in Turkey:
- Turkey: another woman murdered (February 9, 2010)
- Turkey: cis man sentenced to life imprisonment for deliberate homicide and aggravated looting (January 25, 2010)
- *UPDATE* Turkey: another LGBT rights organization faces closure (December 16, 2009)
- Turkey: Police try to prevent submission of human rights petition by trans protesters (November 2, 2009)
- Turkey: another LGBT rights organization faces closure (October 26, 2009)
- Turkey: Murderer of Melek K sentenced to life imprisonment? (October 18, 2009)
- Turkey: Second hearing in the trial for the murder of Melek K adjourned (October 16, 2009)
- Not-so-easy money (October 1, 2009)
- Easy money (September 29, 2009)
- Turkey: Trans novel banned (August 15, 2009)
