Turkey plans separate prisonsfor gays
Wed 16th Apr, 2014 in International News
Turkey’s government plans to build separate jails for gay or
transgender prisoners, in an attempt to protect them from attacks or
harassment while in prison.
“Projects are under way for the construction of separate penitentiaries to house inmates with divergent sexual orientations,” announces Justice Minister Bekir Bozdag.
“Convicts who have stated that they are gay will not mix with other convicts in the communal area, or during social activities in the new prison facilities,” he explains.
“Instead of creating public areas where people from all sexual orientations can live together, the government has once again chosen to ostracise homosexuals,” says gay rights group organiser Murat Koylu.
It’s not illegal to be homosexual in Turkey, but being gay is often frowned upon and discrimination is rife.
Separate prison units for gay convicts in New York’s Rikers Island complex ended in 2005 after three decades, and in 2010 Italy became the first nation to open a prison exclusively for transgender convicts.
Turkey’s first-ever transgender TV news presenter Michelle Demishevich spoke to Same Same last year about her life and career. See our interview here.
“Projects are under way for the construction of separate penitentiaries to house inmates with divergent sexual orientations,” announces Justice Minister Bekir Bozdag.
“Convicts who have stated that they are gay will not mix with other convicts in the communal area, or during social activities in the new prison facilities,” he explains.
“The government has once again chosen to ostracise homosexuals.”But human rights groups fear the “pink wards” segregation will lead to more discrimination and fear around gay people inside prisons.
“Instead of creating public areas where people from all sexual orientations can live together, the government has once again chosen to ostracise homosexuals,” says gay rights group organiser Murat Koylu.
It’s not illegal to be homosexual in Turkey, but being gay is often frowned upon and discrimination is rife.
Separate prison units for gay convicts in New York’s Rikers Island complex ended in 2005 after three decades, and in 2010 Italy became the first nation to open a prison exclusively for transgender convicts.
Turkey’s first-ever transgender TV news presenter Michelle Demishevich spoke to Same Same last year about her life and career. See our interview here.
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