European Parliament, Brussels

1st July 2015

Dear Commissioner Hahn,

Disproportionate police response to Istanbul Pride March

As I am sure you are aware, many cities around the world celebrated LGBTI pride events this
weekend - including London, Berlin, Dublin, Paris and New York. With the recent judgement
of the United State Supreme Court on equal marriage and the Irish referendum on the same
subject as well as major advances on LGBTI rights in Malta, we had much to celebrate.
Sadly, however, the same expression of identity and celebration of diversity was not possible
at Istanbul Pride on Sunday. As many marched peacefully in support of LGBTI people
through this diverse and vibrant city riot police - in an attempt to disrupt and halt the march used tear gas, rubber bullets and water cannons to disperse the crowds. The videos of this
heavy-handed response to a peaceful protest are truly shocking.
Turkey has been a candidate country for membership of the European Union and the
precursor to the modern, secular state, the Ottoman Empire, decriminalised homosexuality in
1858. But increasingly respect for rights, which we hold dear to us, are being sullied: the
right of assembly, the right of peaceful enjoyment, the right to love as well as more widely a
respect for LGBTI people.
I therefore write to you today to urge you to use every avenue at your disposal to make it
clear to the Turkish government and Turkish authorities that this sort of violence against a
peaceful protest is unacceptable and that LGBTI rights must be respected as part of a wider
commitment to fundamental human rights. Furthermore, accession talks must take into
account every violation of human rights and the need to uphold the rights of LGBTI people
everywhere.

Yours sincerely,

Seb Dance MEP

Mark Demesmaeker MEP
Sion Simon MEP
Merja Kyllnen MEP
Nessa Childers MEP
Ian Duncan MEP
Mary Honeyball MEP
Theresa Griffin MEP
Fernando Maura Barandiaran MEP
Paul Brannen MEP
Hilde Vautmans MEP
Bart Staes MEP
Tanja Fajon MEP

Marina Albiol Guzmn MEP

Javier Nart MEP
Lynn Boylan MEP
Matt Carthy MEP
Liadh ni Riada MEP
Martina Anderson MEP
Brando Benifei MEP
Terry Reintke MEP
Anneliese Dodds MEP
Alexander Graf Lambsdorff MEP
Sirpa Pietikinen MEP
Clara E. Aguilera MEP
David Martin MEP
Sylvie Guillaume MEP
Tania Gonzlez Penas MEP
Keith Taylor MEP
Izaskun Bilbao Barandica MEP
Isabella Adinolfi MEP
Elly Schlein MEP
Pina Picierno MEP
Birgit Sippel MEP
Afzal Khan MEP
Linna Engstrm MEP
Clare Moody MEP
Jude Kirton-Darling MEP
Cecilia Wikstrm MEP
Jeppe Kofod MEP
Igor oltes MEP
Eider Gardiazabal Rubial MEP
Virginie Roziere MEP
Catherine Stihler MEP
Ernest Urtasun MEP
Claude Moraes MEP
Glenis Willmot MEP
Richard Corbett MEP
Alyn Smith MEP
Miriam Dalli MEP
Marian Harkin MEP
Lucy Anderson MEP
Julie Ward MEP
Ana Maria Gomes MEP
Javier Lopez MEP
Maria Noichl MEP
Eva Kaili MEP
Elena Gentile MEP
Sophie in't Veld MEP
Petr Jezek MEP
Neena Gill MEP
Paloma Lpez Bermejo MEP
Marita Ulvskog MEP

Olle Ludvigsson MEP

Jytte Guteland MEP
Jens Nilsson MEP
Anna Hedh MEP
Eva-Lena Kapanen MEP
Jos Incio Faria MEP
Linda McAvan MEP
Kati Piri MEP
Derek Vaughan MEP
Ulrike Lunacek MEP
Santiago Fisas Ayxela MEP
Richard Howitt MEP