Nawel was in Tunis’s city centre when it happened. “This guy came up to me from nowhere. He was dressed really religiously and, without any warning, he just slapped me across the face – and the weird thing was that it wasn’t just the slap. It was that no one did anything.
Turkey: Police question mourners after tipoff
Boysan Yakar, LGBTI activist and advisor to Şişli Mayor, Zeliş Deniz, feminist LGBTI activist, and Mert Serçe have passed away in a highway car crash.
Stepping into action in light of a tip off given by “neighbors” about a rainbow flag draped over the caskets of LGBTI activists Boysan Yakar and Zeliş Deniz, who lost their lives in a traffic accident, police went to the mourners’ home wanting to take a statement.
According to Yıldırım, the police said that they had come after getting a tip off that the funerals had been performed with an illegal organization’s flag. Neriman Deniz, who asked whether the feminist movement’s flag and the LGBTI movement’s rainbow flag were considered illegal, got “no, of course not,” as an answer. Read More via LGBTI News Turkey
Gambia: Two decades of fear and repression
Gambia’s government commits serious human rights violations against perceived critics and political opponents, perpetuating a climate of fear and repression, Human Rights Watch said in a report released today.
The 81-page report, “State of Fear: Arbitrary Arrests, Torture, and Killings,” describes the human rights situation in Gambia since President Yahya Jammeh took power in 1994 and ruthlessly repressed all forms of dissent. See more at Human Rights Watch
Gambia: This gay man survived torture in one of Africa’s most horrific dictatorships
After more than six months in prison, several rounds of torture, and two hospitalizations for his injuries, Alieu Sarr fled his country by boat under cover of night late last month. Sarr was arrested last fall, alongside at least 15 others, by security forces controlled by Gambian President Yahya Jammeh, one of the world’s most ruthless dictators. Jammeh had launched a new witch hunt in the months following the August adoption of a law that would punish “aggravated homosexuality” with life in prison.
Most of those with whom he was arrested were released after short detentions, but Sarr and two other men were held to face charges. They were paraded before the media by security officials as Jammeh repeatedly made public pledges to execute LGBT people, including promising in a May speech to slit the throats of homosexuals. “No one will ever set eyes on you again, and no white person can do anything about it,” Jammeh vowed.
In a phone interview from Senegal’s capital, Dakar, Sarr said he was sure he would die, as dozens reportedly have while detained by the National Intelligence Agency. Read More via Buzzfeed
Ukraine: Queer Home Kryvbass attacked
Unidentified men in masks attacked a Queer Home Kryvbass. The attackers threw smoke bombs at the community center and destroyed the premises. During an attempt to stop criminals one of the center visitors was attacked and stunned. At the moment he is in the emergency department, the information about his condition is being clarified.
A day earlier, a closed LGBT party was attacked in Kryvyi Rih. About 2 o'clock after the midnight the door of the cafe, where a closed event was held, was knocked down and about 20 men in masks broke in and beaten up the visitors. Witnesses said the attackers were in the T-shirts with symbolic of the Right Sector. The police officers arrived at the crime scene and almost everyone of the attackers were released.
One of the main functions of the state is to protect its citizens. UPO "Gay Alliance Ukraine" appeals to the law enforcement authorities with a demand not only to punish those responsible for today's incident, but also to take all possible measures to protect the life, health and fundamental rights of the citizens of Ukraine. Read More via Gay Alliance Ukraine
UK: Homophobic attacks up by a third in London
Reports of homophobic crimes have surged by nearly a third in London in the past year, according to data from the Metropolitan police. The data comes from the force’s latest annual crime figures – which allow types of reports to be broken down by borough and by crime type.
It shows that 1,667 homophobic offences took place in the 12 months to July 2015 – up from 1,289 in the 12 months to July 2014. The shocking data – an increase of 29.3% year-on-year – may be partly down to better recording of hate crimes, though it does signify a worrying trend.
Racist, anti-Semitic and Islamophobic attacks all also saw a rise – though the number of homophobic incidents recorded was nearly double those of Islamophobic crimes, and three times the number of anti-Semitic crimes. Read More via PinkNews
Malaysia: Battered and bruised, award-winning transgender activist fears assault complaint may be ignored
Despite having won recognition for her work, transgender activist Nisha Ayub expressed fears today that the police would not take her seriously after she lodged a report over being slashed and beaten up in a purported hate crime last week.
Nisha, who is part of Justice for Sisters (JFS) that had assisted three Muslim transwomen to mount a court challenge against a Negri Sembilan anti-crossdressing law, said she has seen previous cases of violence against transwomen not being taken seriously.
“Most transgender women [do] not make any report when they are attacked or whatever cases [sic]. They feel that nothing will be done because of our identity,” added the transwoman, who was awarded “Hero of the Year” at the Asia LGBT Milestone Awards and received an award for “Extraordinary Activism” by international watchdog Human Rights Watch. Read More via The Malay Mail Online
Iraq: ISIS throws 9 homosexuals from tall building in Mosul
According to a local source in Nineveh province, ISIS organization threw nine civilians from a tall building on charges of homosexuality in the city of Mosul. The source, who asked anonymity, added: “ISIS militants rounded up a number of citizens in the city to see the implementation of the judgment of the so-called Shariah judge.”
In June 4, 2015 ISIS threw three civilians from the top of an insurance company building located in Dawasa area in the city of Mosul on charges of sodomy. Read More via Iraqi News
Australia: Anti same-sex marriage group warns of 'Dad-less' kids risk
An Australian anti same-sex marriage group has marked Father's Day by releasing a video warning of the dangers of children growing up without Dads. The Marriage Alliance commercial uses American statistics to back its claims that children without fathers are more likely to drop out of school, run away from home, be involved in crime and end up in prison.
Spokeswoman Sophie York said same-sex couples were deliberately denying children their fundamental right to have a male and female role model. While the video did not mention divorce, death and other circumstances that might result in a child growing up without a father, Marriage Alliance said in its statement it did acknowledge those factors.
"But deliberately putting a child into fatherless parental arrangement as occurs with a same-sex relationship or a legalised same-sex marriage means putting that child at extreme risk," it said. "It legitimises an increase in fatherless kids." Read More via Sydney Morning Herald
Europe: Parliament strongly condemns Azerbaijan’s suppression LGBTI people
The European Parliament adopted a resolution on the human rights situation in Azerbaijan, in which it denounces the intimidation and repression of LGBTI people, as well as those defending their rights. The overall human rights situation in Azerbaijan has deteriorated continuously over the last few years, with many independent journalists and civil society leaders now imprisoned without appropriate access to healthcare. Those not imprisoned, are often subjected to intimidation and harassment. Independent LGBTI activists had to flee the country for fear of persecution.
Ulrike Lunacek MEP, Co-President of the Intergroup on LGBTIRights, reacted: “Over the last year, at least 3 LGBTI persons were killed with trans-/homophobic motives, which is unfortunately no wonder in a context where inflammatory speech against LGBTI people comes from the highest levels, including politicians.”
Tanja Fajon MEP and Kati Piri MEP, Vice-President and Member of the Intergroup on LGBTI Rights, continued: “We call on the High Representative, the Commission and the Council to address this at the highest possible level, including through the human rights dialogue and a stop of the negotiations on the Strategic Partnership Agreement with Azerbaijan if things do not improve.” Read More via European Parliament Intergroup on LGBT Rights
Malaysia: Love is not terrorism, Najib
What possible connection can there be between a woman who loves another woman and the brutal extremist armed group that calls itself Islamic State (also known as Isis)?
Well, according to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, they both pose direct threats to the “moderation” that his vision of Islam advances. At an international seminar in Bangi, local media reports say, Najib asserted that extremist armed groups and sexual and gender minorities both pose a threat to Malaysian society.
"Groups like the Islamic State and lesbians, gay, bisexuals, and transgenders (LGBT) both target the younger generation,” he said, “and seem successful in influencing certain groups in society.”
Dr Teh Yik Koon, a Malaysian scholar who has extensively researched the situation of transgender people in Malaysia, told Human Rights Watch, “People rely on the government to tell them what’s right and wrong—especially when it comes to [what is perceived as] a religious question.” This is not the first time Najib has attempted to scapegoat LGBT people. Read More via Human Rights Watch
Ghana: Presidential candidate, if elected, will kill gay people by firing squad
Ghanaian politician George Boateng has vowed to unseat President John Mahama in the National Democratic Congress party’s presidential primaries in November. And in doing so, has already started making pronouncements about what he will deliver if he is elected.
Speaking on Kasapa radio, he said it was time to ‘eradicate’ homosexuality from Ghana: ‘There is too much indiscipline in Ghana, under my presidency when a corrupt person, gay or lesbian are arrested the law will make it possible for the courts to sentence the offender to death by firing squad.'
Gay sex is currently illegal in Ghana, punishable by up to three years in jail if it is consensual. There is uncertainty over whether female homosexuality is illegal. Violence against LGBTI people is widespread but highly under-reported and not prosecuted. Read More via Gay Star News