Trans Young People Are Yet Again at the Heart of a New Draft Anti-LGBTQI Bill in Türkiye
A bill actively targeting the LGBTQI community in Türkiye is due to be submitted to the Grand National Assembly. IGLYO condemns this potential proposed change in legislation as it is a direct attack on human rights and as we have seen with the current wave of anti-LGBTQI laws and policies, it particularly targets LGBTQI children and young people.
Bodily Autonomy
The draft bill raises the minimum age requirement to receive gender affirming care from 18 to 25 despite the age of 18 being legal adults in Türkiye. This provision completely undermines individual people's rights to bodily autonomy and self determination and seeks to further stigmatise the trans community, particularly young trans people.
Furthermore, the draft bill introduces a requirement that those receiving gender affirming care must be "deprived of reproductive ability" which is not only an attack on bodily autonomy but veers directly into a practice of eugenics. The European Court of Human Rights has found such criteria to be a violation of the European Convention of Human Rights.
Prison for Doctors and Patients
The draft bill foresees prison sentences from 3-7 years for healthcare professionals who perform medical interventions related to gender affirming procedures without a court decision. "Medical interventions" is left purposefully vague and could be interpreted to include hormone treatment and even psychotherapy.
Similarly, trans people would also face prison sentences for obtaining gender affirming care without a court decision.
Being Yourself Would Be Criminalised
The draft bill lays out changes to the Penal code which deals with what is considered a crime. The changes include additions to Article 225 titled "Obscene Acts". Here even public visibility and human rights advocacy for LGBTQI people is criminalised. The wording states that prison sentences ranging from 1 to 3 years would be possible for those who "promote, praise, or encourage attitudes and behaviors contrary to one's biological sex assigned at birth and public morality".
Clearly LGBTQI people, in particular trans people, are the target here, however this will greatly impact anyone who does not conform to strict gender roles and gender norms.
Prison sentences are also foreseen for same-sex couples who organise commitment ceremonies — an attack on every individuals right to privacy.
Our Solidarity with the Community in Türkiye
We at IGLYO are sending our solidarity with the community in Türkiye as they organise to oppose this draft bill. We will work within our network to do everything we can to fight this.