03/09/2025 | Writer: Kaos GL
The Ministry responded to the union’s anti-LGBTI+ signature campaign. The union said, “We will take the matter of closing associations to court.”
Photo: Serra Akcan / csgorselarsiv.org
The Union of Spiritual, Principled and Merit-Based Religious Affairs and Foundations Workers (Mil-Diyanet Sen), one of the unions of the Presidency of Religious Affairs, launched an anti-LGBTI+ signature campaign in January. The union’s branches in many cities such as Istanbul, Antalya, Artvin, Adıyaman, Elazığ, and Zonguldak also announced that the signature campaign targeting LGBTI+ people would be carried out simultaneously across Turkey.
Following the campaign, the union submitted the collected signatures to the Ministry of Interior.
The Ministry gave a “negative” response to the union’s request
The Ministry responded to the union’s request regarding the closure of LGBTI+ associations by stating: “Decisions regarding the closure and suspension of activities of associations can only be made by judicial authorities; complaints regarding the closure of the said associations must be submitted to the court.”Mil-Diyanet Sen President Celaleddin Gül shared the Ministry’s response on his social media accounts, continuing his hostility toward LGBTI+ people by saying: “As Mil-Diyanet Sen, we declare that we will continue the legal struggle to the end against these perverse ideologies that target the institution of the family and our young generations.”
Mil-Diyanet Sen: “We will take the closure of LGBTI+ associations to court”
In his statement, Gül said: “The Ministry’s response does not change the fact that the LGBT imposition is contrary to the beliefs, morals, and values of our society” and announced that they would take the matter of closing the associations to court:“The Ministry has stated that, according to legislation, decisions regarding the closure of such associations can only be made by judicial authorities. This shows that the rightful demand that has risen with the signatures and will of our nation cannot be ignored, but on the contrary, must be carried to the judiciary in a stronger and more determined manner.”
“By taking the matter to the relevant courts, we see it as our raison d’être to be the voice of our nation, to protect public order, morality, and our national values. We will not allow these networks of betrayal to operate under the guise of associations!”
Tags: human rights, trans, lgbti
