But “gay propaganda” becomes a crime under new measures agreed by MPs
Conservative MEP Marina Yannakoudakis (left) who welcomed the law and Democrat Party MP Zorlu Töre, who described it as a threat to the Turkish Cypriot family unit
THE TURKISH Republic of Northern Cyprus has become the last place in Europe to decriminalise gay sex between consenting adults.
MPs from the governing Republican Turkish Party – Democrat Party coalition voted to pass an amendment on Monday that repealed the ban, which dated back to Britain’s colonial rule on the island.
Previously sexual intercourse that was deemed “against the order of nature” could be punished with a five year prison sentence.
The amendment was part of a bill that also amended Turkish Cypriot laws on prostitution and sex offences.
Although the amendment decriminalised gay sex between consenting adults, it introduced a new criminal offence of “gay propaganda”.
The vote was boycotted by the opposition National Unity Party (UBP). Faiz Sucuoğlu, a party MP representing Nicosia, told the Kibris newspaper that they supported most of the bill’s provisions but that homosexuality needed “more time for discussion”.
Another opponent, Democrat Party MP Zorlu Töre, said a homosexual lifestyle was free in many countries of the world but “at the expense a healthy family structure”.
He said: “Many families have been split up over this. Many women have chosen to divorce because their husbands are homosexual. That means this decision will bring serious troubles to [Turkish Cypriot] families.”
Most Turkish Cypriots did not consider homosexuality to be “right”, Mr Töre added.
EROĞLU TO SIGN LAW
A British member of the European Parliament, the Conservative Marina Yannakoudakis, welcomed the Turkish Cypriot decision.
“I congratulate the Turkish Cypriot LGBT community on finally being able to exercise the most basic human right of all – the right to love,” she said.
“I am proud to have stood up for Turkish Cypriot LGBTs and hope that my efforts to put pressure on Dr. Eroglu and other politicians have helped speed up the process of decriminalisation.
“As other Commonwealth countries such as Nigeria and Uganda impose increasingly draconian measures to persecute LGBT people, I hope that people will learn from Cyprus that the anti-gay legacy of Britain’s colonial past should be scrapped and not strengthened.”
Ms Yannakoudakis said she understood Mr Eroğlu would be signing the bill into law.
Speaking to Londra Gazete, a spokesman for Turkish LGBT rights group Nar UK said: “For decades thousands of LGBT people in North Cyprus have lived in fear and isolation under the legacy of a law that should have been repealed long ago.
“We hope that repeal of these articles will ease people’s lives in Northern Cyprus and open up an honest discussion on human sexuality, both in Cyprus and amongst the diaspora.”
Michael Sarris was arrested in October 2011
GREEK CYPRIOT FINANCE MINISTER ARREST
The question of homosexuality’s legality in the north of Cyprus drew international attention when as many as five men were arrested for “homosexual offences” in October 2011.
Former Greek Cypriot finance minister Michael Sarris was among as many as five men and teenagers arrested by Turkish Cypriot police on the “activities against the order of nature” charge. Mr Sarris was released from custody three days later.
Having been finance minister of the Republic of Cyprus between 2005 and 2008, he was appointed to the role once more in 2013 in order to lead talks with the European Union on a bailout package for the country.