Response to interpellation 2023/24:634 on the situation for LGBTQI people in Turkey
Translated from Swedish by AI; the translation may contain errors. The Swedish text is the original.
Summary AI, written in advance
The debate concerns the situation for hbtqi persons in Turkey. M believes that it is in Sweden's interest to promote democratic development and human rights in Turkey 1. M argues that the government is actively working in the UN, providing financial support to Turkish civil society 1 2 and pushing for the EU's demands 2. M considers it regrettable that Turkey has left the Istanbul Convention 3 and emphasizes that the right to privacy without discrimination is a fundamental human right 4. S believes that Turkey is not a functioning democracy due to hate speech and violence 5. S argues that the government is passive 6.
Written by AI in advance and may contain errors. The numbers lead to the speech a statement builds on; check against the text below.
Utrikesministern Tobias Billström (M)
Mr. Speaker! Daniel Vencu Velasquez Castro has asked me for my opinion on whether Turkey is a well-functioning democracy that stands up for the equal value of all people and whether I, against this background, intend to take any initiatives. He has also asked what possible paths I see that can be used to influence the Turkish state when it comes to the treatment of LGBTQI people. Furthermore, he has asked me what I, together with the government, are doing to support LGBTQI people and organizations working with these issues in Turkey.
It is in Sweden's interest to continue to promote and contribute to a more democratic development in Turkey in which human rights are respected. This applies particularly to the situation for opposition politicians, journalists, persons belonging to minorities, human rights defenders and hbtqi persons.
This situation is described in detail by various non-governmental organizations, for example Amnesty and Human Rights Watch. The EU Commission also writes about the developments in Turkey in its annual evaluation of the progress made on the way towards EU membership in each of the EU's candidate and partner countries. In the latest conclusions, adopted in December 2023, the Council repeated, among other things, its serious concern over the continued regression in the areas of democracy, the rule of law, and fundamental rights in Turkey.
Sweden is actively working, among other things, in the UN Human Rights Council. There, we have advocated that Turkey should adopt anti-discrimination legislation that includes sexual orientation and gender identity as grounds for discrimination. Most recently, on March 20, 2024, the EU urged Turkey to respect its obligations under international law—including human rights—in a statement that Sweden also stood behind in the UN Human Rights Council.
We also convey these messages directly to representatives in Turkey and act locally. Sida, the Swedish Institute, and our foreign agencies work on the ground in Turkey to strengthen respect for human rights, democracy, and the principles of the rule of law, as well as to improve the conditions for a more equal society.
The Swedish embassy in Ankara and the consulate general in Istanbul provide annual support for the work for human rights and democracy in Turkey, of which large parts go to civil society, including the Turkish LGBTQI movement.
For the government, it is obvious to stand up for everyone's equal value, including hbtqi persons' full enjoyment of human rights. It is serious every time a country does not do so.
Daniel Vencu Velasquez Castro (S)
Mr. Speaker! Thank you, Foreign Minister Billström, for the answer!
LGBTQI people in Turkey face a number of challenges, including discrimination and harassment where people can lose their jobs because of their sexual orientation without any possibility of redress. Reports of honor-related murders of LGBTQI people arrive weekly.
The Turkish government has made major restrictions on freedom of expression and banned what it calls LGBTQ+ propaganda from public service. At the UN, President Erdogan said that the values of the nuclear family are under threat and that the whole world must stand up against those who try to destroy those values. In the presidential election, the hate rhetoric against specifically LGBTQ+ people was fueled by President Erdogan. Towards the end, the threat from LGBTQ+ people was raised in every speech that President Erdogan gave.
During 2022, there were 650 reported cases of torture of hbtqi persons in Turkey. These were people who were subjected to violence over a longer period. These are people who need help from hbtqi organizations that meet and help those who have been subjected to it. But they are suppressed by the Turkish state because they threaten the Turkish identity and the values of the nuclear family.
Every day, acts of violence are committed against LGBTQI people, and their human rights are violated without them having any possibility of redress. According to ILGA-Europe, Turkey is the worst country in Europe for LGBTQI people to live in.
The restrictions occurring in Turkey regarding human rights, freedom of expression, freedom of the press, and freedom of association are not synonymous with a democracy. Despite that, Mr. Speaker, Foreign Minister Billström and others from the government base have expressed that Turkey is a functioning democracy because Turkey has free elections. These are truly astonishing statements from a Foreign Minister from one of the world's strongest democracies, I believe.
It is obvious that Turkey is not a functioning democracy, far from it. This is manifested most clearly in the hatred and threats against LGBTQI people. Demonstrations are organized to ban homosexuality, but the pride parade has been banned since 2015. LGBTQI organizations need to start several organizations simultaneously so that they can quickly move their activities when they are shut down. It is not if they are shut down, but when they are shut down.
In a situation such as the one Turkey finds itself in, I believe it is quite irresponsible of the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Speaker, not to be able to further problematize the situation in Turkey. This applies, for example, to the fact that the country has no anti-discrimination legislation, something that Minister for Foreign Affairs Billström himself raised. It means that there is no safety net for LGBTQI persons when they are subjected to [discrimination/abuse].
Mr. Speaker! For a long time, Sweden has had a NATO application that Turkey has used against us at every opportunity given. It has not been good for either Sweden or the world. Turkey's exploitation of the NATO process for the purpose of continuing its democratic restrictions is problematic. It is high time that we stand up for human rights in Turkey and take a stand against the abuses that President Erdogan's undemocratic methods and hatred towards hbtqi persons entail.
I would therefore like to ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs, by reason of his answer to my interpellation: In what concrete ways is the dialogue regarding human rights and the situation for hbtqi persons in Turkey being conducted with the Turkish government?
In the Turkey strategy, it clearly states that one should avoid cooperation with public institutions. What is the government doing to strengthen civil society in Turkey and in Sweden to strengthen the rights of LGBTQI persons in Turkey?
Utrikesministern Tobias Billström (M)
Mr. Speaker! I would like to start by thanking Daniel Vencu Velasquez Castro for the question and also for the member's commitment to the rights of hbtqi persons. As I mentioned initially, the rights of hbtqi persons is an important issue for me and the government.
The government is making major investments in the rights of LGBTQI persons. Most recently in February this year, to be exact on February 5, Minister for Equality and Deputy Minister for Employment Paulina Brandberg invited civil society organizations to so-called consultation meetings to present the government's work in developing a new action plan to strengthen the equal rights and opportunities of LGBTQI persons. The new action plan aims to consolidate, complement, and pool the work to be carried out 2024-2027. It is a process in which the dialogue with civil society constitutes an important part.
This is what we do within Sweden. Parallel to this, the government will continue to prioritize this issue internationally. I have previously answered questions in the Riksdag regarding the government's stance on developments in the LGBTQI area in other countries, for example in Uganda. It is obvious to us that prioritized work for improved LGBTQI rights in Sweden goes hand in hand with an international commitment. This also applies to Turkey.
For the government, it is important that Sweden is a driving force internationally when it comes to LGBTQI issues. During the Swedish EU Presidency, a conference was organized in Stockholm with a focus on precisely these issues. The meeting's conclusions highlight the importance of equal rights for LGBTQI persons in accordance with EU law, with a focus on legislative protection against violence, harassment, and discrimination.
EU integration presupposes that candidate countries adapt to the EU's regulatory framework. Since Turkey is an EU candidate country, the government also expects Turkey to follow the EU's strategy for the equal rights of LGBTQI persons. That such an adaptation has not yet occurred is clearly evident from the EU Commission's annual evaluation.
Mr. Speaker! As I mentioned earlier, Sweden is also actively working on these issues in the UN. In the UN Human Rights Council in March this year, the EU declared in a joint statement the concern expressed regarding Turkey's developments. Turkey's 2021 decision to withdraw from the Council of Europe's Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence, known as the Istanbul Convention, which is a central instrument for countering violence that is gender-discriminatory, was particularly criticized.
The Government, of course, shares this concern regarding Turkey's decision to withdraw from the Istanbul Convention. The decision is deeply regrettable, especially considering that Turkey was the first country to ratify the Istanbul Convention, which, moreover, gave rise to the name of the convention. The consequences of Turkey having left the convention have become tangible not only for equality but also for LGBTQI persons in the country.
Daniel Vencu Velasquez Castro (S)
Mr. Speaker! Regarding the action plan for LGBTQI persons, we can state that it is late, Foreign Minister Billström. Right now, Sweden has no action plan that is current. It is something that I have conveyed to Minister Brandberg. But we can return to speaking about the areas of responsibility that Foreign Minister Billström has.
It is 13 percent of the world's population that lives in what we call functioning democracies. The number of authoritarian states is increasing, and never have human rights been as threatened as they are today. In such a situation, I cannot comprehend why the government does not want Sweden to be a strong voice and an offensive state that does its utmost so that human rights are respected in all corners of the world. It is entirely possible.
Mr. Speaker! The development in Turkey has been worrying. But for quite a long time and for many years, the development was heading in the right direction. In the early 2000s, Turkey was democratized with more organizations being established that worked for, among other things, the rights of hbtqi persons. The state became more secular, and the military's grip on the state institutions became weaker. The first pride parade was held in Istanbul in 2003. It first met very much resistance before becoming a celebration of love that we also recognize here at home in Sweden.
But it was not as if the Turkish state one day simply decided to strengthen human rights and introduce the pride parade in Istanbul in 2003. It was hard work that was primarily carried out by civil society in Turkey, but also by other civil society organizations from, among others, Sweden, Mr. Speaker.
That was the reason for my previous question regarding civil society's role and in what way the government can strengthen it in Turkey, as it is relevant. We know that states, and particularly authoritarian states, dislike it when other states intervene and cooperate with organizations that are in conflict with the country's government.
Therefore, it is very important that civil society has an active role in countries such as Turkey. We saw that during the beginning of the 2000s when the cooperation between Swedish civil society organizations and Turkish civil society organizations was given free room to operate and could realize a democratization of the Turkish state. It is based on those lessons that one notes today in the strategy that civil society's role is crucial for promoting human rights in Turkey.
Mr. Speaker! Now the development is going in the wrong direction again. The parade in Istanbul has been forbidden since 2015.
The Swedish government has been quite passive towards Erdogan and his government. Enough is enough now! The Swedish government must create the conditions to strengthen the rights of LGBTQI persons in Turkey if it is to be credible at all in matters concerning human rights.
But in this situation, the government chooses to reduce its engagement in the outside world and thus in Turkey. The reduced appropriations for aid in Sweden have affected the work to strengthen the rights of LGBTQI persons in Turkey. Organizations such as RFSL are given less space to carry out effective democracy work in Turkey, Mr. Speaker, and this is due to decisions made by this government.
In the foreign policy declaration, Tobias Billström said that human freedoms and rights must be defended. Very good! Then it must also be done. Defend them! Do it by being an active actor who demands answers from Erdogan regarding what is happening with the hundreds of imprisoned hbtqi activists! What is being done about the violence that hbtqi persons have to endure every single day in Turkey? What is being done about the restrictions that occur regarding hbtqi persons' democratic right to organize? What is being done about the violence that is cheered on by Erdogan's government in Turkey? Mark and act!
Mr. Speaker! I want to ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he considers it appropriate to re-evaluate his position on Turkey and work more focusedly to strengthen human rights in the country and, in that work, also promote hbtqi persons' right to free lives.
Utrikesministern Tobias Billström (M)
Mr. Speaker! As I mentioned earlier, Sweden provides annual financial support to Turkish civil society. In the Swedish strategy for reform cooperation with the Western Balkans and Turkey, which applies during the period 2021-2027, it is clearly clarified that the Swedish reform support has the overarching goal of promoting an open and European-oriented democratic society. The focus shall also be on supporting and protecting a pluralistic and independent civil society. Equality and human rights are central goals for the strategy.
Swedish foreign authorities in Turkey have, as part of the reform cooperation, provided project support to an educational program for hbtqi persons - this is said because the interpellor asked how the government works with these issues. The purpose of the educational program is to strengthen hbtqi persons' political participation and influence in decision-making processes by providing the participants with knowledge about hbtqi persons' constitutional rights.
Mr. Speaker! Human Rights Watch describes that Turkey is regressing in the development regarding respect for human rights. The situation for hbtqi persons is described by the organization as difficult with increasing hate speech against hbtqi persons, which is recognized from several other countries. Discrimination, threats, and violence against hbtqi persons occur, especially during pride events, just as we have heard here in the interpellation debate.
The Government continues to follow the developments in Turkey in this area with concern. Sweden is also one of the countries that is pushing for the EU's calls to Turkey to respect fundamental human rights, including for hbtqi persons.
Daniel Vencu Velasquez Castro (S)
Mr. Speaker! I would like to assert that the regime in Turkey has joined the far-right movement that this government has also become dependent on, where LGBTQI persons are used as punching bags in the socio-political debate and as a result need to endure physical and mental violence.
This is happening in Russia, in states in the USA and in Argentina, Indonesia, Uganda, as Billström himself pointed out, and many other countries. This is an international matter that requires states that in practice safeguard the rights of hbtqi persons to also be active in the international community to hold those who do not do so accountable.
Mr. Speaker! The UN Convention on Human Rights and the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights are only effective if we stand up for them and do so in dialogue with states that do not follow them. Turkey has signed both of these conventions, but it is obvious that the country does not follow them.
It would have been interesting to hear what the Foreign Minister thinks he can do further within the full scope of his office to put pressure on Turkey to respect the rights of LGBTQI persons.
Mr. Speaker! As I have explained earlier in the debate, the government's irresponsible way of handling the aid and the Natoprocess has worsened the situation for hbtqi persons in Turkey. Sweden is losing credibility in issues concerning human rights.
The rights of LGBTQI people have become a major foreign policy issue that goes hand in hand with issues concerning democracy. A freer society for LGBTQI people means a freer society for everyone. Sweden has, not least in the early 2000s, shown what effect effective aid work and a clear foreign policy can have in countries such as Turkey. For this to happen, political decisiveness and clear positions are needed. It is something that the government unfortunately lacks.
It is regrettable in a situation where hbtqi people worldwide are in great need of a humanitarian superpower that champions their rights and right to exist.
Utrikesministern Tobias Billström (M)
Mr. Speaker! I share Daniel Vencu Velasquez Castro's concern. The Government views with great seriousness the developments in Turkey regarding respect for human rights and the situation for hbtqi persons. The protection that the Turkish state offers hbtqi persons does not, in the current situation, correspond to the expectations that can be placed on an EU candidate country.
Sweden will continue to be a driving force in promoting human rights internationally. Sweden has a very clear position in support of everyone's enjoyment of human rights regardless of sexual orientation and gender identity. The right to make one's own decisions about one's own private life without being discriminated against is a fundamental human right.
To ensure that development moves in the right direction, the government works actively internationally, both within the EU, in the UN Human Rights Council, and in our bilateral contacts. Our foreign authorities also act locally by supporting Turkish civil society. As I mentioned earlier, Sweden's embassy in Ankara and our consulate general in Istanbul provide annual support to the work for human rights in Turkey. Hbtqi persons should be able to live a life where their rights and identity are fully respected, regardless of which country they live in. It is the government's priority.
Source: The Swedish Parliament. The speeches come from the open data of the Riksdag, translated into English by AI, which may contain errors.