UN expresses concern over LGBT rights in Turkey
Reports mount of violent acts against gays, including last month's breakup by police of Pride parade
ANKARA, Turkey — The UN has expressed concern over a spate of violent and discriminatory acts against Turkey’s LGBT community and called on the country to combat homophobic acts and uphold gay rights.
The statement from the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights on Tuesday follows a violent police crackdown last month on a gay parade in Istanbul and the reported rape and assault of a human rights defender. Posters have also appeared in the capital, Ankara, calling for attacks on members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community.
The UN statement says “we call on the Turkish authorities to take active measures to combat homophobic and transphobic violence and discrimination.”
Police in Istanbul fired tear gas, plastic bullets and water cannons to break up the annual gay pride parade.
Copyright 2015 The Associated Press.