Judge Postpones; Experts Defy Gay Association Closure Case

Beyoglu 3rd Civil Court of First Instance held the fifth hearing in the trial of Lambdaistanbul Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transvestite Transsexual (LGBTT) Solidarity Association on April 17 at 10:00 a.m.

A case was brought against the LGBTT on July 19, 2007 demanding that it is closed down on grounds that it “violates the moral values of the public.”

There was no decision in today’s hearing. The last two hearings had been postponed due to the failure of the court expert to prepare a report.

No decision today either

“This suit should never have been filed,” said the association in a statement before the hearing. “Or the judge should have decided, in the very first hearing, against the closing down of the association. This suit is a stain in our justice system.” The association also expressed hope that today’s hearing would be the last.

Lawyer Firat Soyle of the association told bianet after the hearing that the expert report arrived yesterday evening (April 16) and that it states that “there is no ground for the closing down of the association.”

“We also told the court, as it states on the expert report, that the trial should come to an end,” said Soyle. “However, the prosecutor stated that he had not yet read the expert report and asked for additional time. Whereas, he could just have read the conclusion section.” Soyle stated that the judge accepted the prosecutor’s request and postponed the hearing.

“The judge threw the file onto the judicial bench after announcing the postponement decision,” added Soyle. “That behavior did not represent an objective approach. There was no reason why the trial should not have ended today. This is nothing but delaying, dragging the decision.”

Soyle also commented on the police raiding the offices of the association last week.

“The police started monitoring the association after they received a notice claiming that the association is engaged in prostitution,” said Soyle.

“They saw that transvestites and transsexuals entered the association and so they raided the offices with a search warrant. However, the name of the association is Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transvestite Transsexual Solidarity Association... Of course we were saddened by the raid.” (EZO/GG/EA/EÜ)