Turkey’s President Tayyip Erdogan declared on Saturday that he does not acknowledge the existence of the LGBTQ community and pledged to fight against what he perceives as harmful movements that seek to dismantle the institution of the family within the country.
Erdogan, along with his Islamist-rooted AK Party, which governs Turkey, has recently taken a stricter stance on LGBTQ rights, especially during the May elections campaign.
While homosexuality is not illegal in Turkey, there is widespread hostility towards it, and the crackdown on Pride parades by the police has become increasingly severe over the years.
Addressing an AK Party congress in Ankara, Erdogan, who has frequently derogatorily referred to LGBTQ individuals as “deviants,” stated that neither his party nor their nationalist MHP allies acknowledge the LGBTQ community.
He said, “We do not recognize LGBT. Anyone who recognizes LGBT can go ahead and march with them. We belong to a structure that upholds the institution of the family firmly, embracing it wholeheartedly.”
In front of tens of thousands of supporters waving flags and chanting, Erdogan proclaimed, “By endorsing perverted political, social, and individual tendencies, we will eliminate the foundation of cunning attempts to dismantle our family institution.”
Following the United Nations General Assembly in New York last month, Erdogan voiced his discomfort regarding the use of what he described as the “LGBT colors” at the U.N., which was adorned with vibrant hues symbolizing the Sustainable Development Goals.
Reported by Tuvan Gumrukcu and edited by Jan Harvey.
Credit: The Star : News Feed
