An investigation was launched against the LGBTI + of Diyanet and the Ankara Bar Association, which reacted to the hatred sermon targeting those living with HIV.
The Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office launched an investigation against the Ankara Bar Association with the allegation of “degrading religious values adopted by a part of the public within the scope of Article 216/3 of the Turkish Penal Code No. 5237”.
Justice Minister Abdulhamit Gul said, "I think that the points stated by the Ankara Bar Association do not suit a well-established legal institution, I condemn the statement."
The full text of the Ankara Bar Association's statement against hate and reminding the fundamental rights was as follows:
“We watched the speech of Ali Erbaş, the President of the Religious Affairs, with disgust for a part of humanity and target the masses with surprise and expression. Our astonishment; The voice of this person, who came before the ages, by sitting at the head of a state institution and building his discourse on sacred values and provoking the people to hatred and hostility.”
Turkey: Criminal Case for Opposing Homophobic Speech
(Istanbul) – The Ankara Prosecutor’s office in Turkey has opened a criminal investigation into the Ankara Bar Association after it filed a complaint against the head of Turkey’s Religious Affairs Directorate for a homophobic speech, Human Rights Watch said today.
The case revolves around a Friday sermon about the Covid-19 pandemic on April 24, 2020 by Ali Erbaş, an imam who heads Turkey’s Religious Affairs Directorate, which administers mosques and personnel for Turkey’s Sunni Muslim majority. During the sermon he blamed homosexuality and premarital sex for the spread of HIV. Erbaş urged Muslims “to join the fight to protect people from such evil.” Following criticism of Erbaş by rights groups and bar associations in Ankara, Izmir, and Diyarbakir, several top Turkish officials, including President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, voiced their support for Erbaş’s remarks and condemned the Ankara Bar Association for criticizing Erbaş’s speech.
“It is extremely concerning to see some of Turkey’s top government representatives appearing to endorse hateful remarks by the head of the religious affairs directorate,” said Hugh Williamson, Europe and Central Asia director at Human Rights Watch. “Turkey’s government has an obligation to protect everyone from hate crimes and discrimination, and should not tolerate statements by officials that encourage hate crimes and target LGBT people and those living with HIV.” Read more via Human Rights Watch