#Acquittal for the Detained Pride Participants of METU Pride, Turkey
Hi, everyone. I don’t normally do posts like these but I know the people behind the campaign personally and it would mean a lot to them if more people knew what is happening right now and spread awareness, so here we go:
What is this about?
In 2019, police illegally tried to prevent METU Pride in Ankara from happening and detained 22 people. On the 8th of October 2021, 19 people will be put on trial for “participating in illegal meetings and demonstrations and refusing to disperse” and may face several years in prison.
What can I do?
The Turkish group ÜniKuir is trying to raise awareness for what is happening right now to increase public pressure. You can:
Use the hashtag #ayberaatver (Turkish for ‘acquittal’) to inform other people on social media about what is happening and mention @unikuir on twitter and instagram
Upload a selfie to social media with a sign that says “Acquittal to METU Pride Parade” and “#ayberaatver” (and don’t forget to mention @unikuir)
Sign their petition!
Does this really change anything?
Of course, the homophobic justice system does not care about your selfie or your signature. They do care about public pressure though. The more people know about what is happening and show their disapproval, the more likely it is that all of this has a positive impact. Also, you can show your solidarity with our imprisoned siblings and the rest of the queer Turkish community that has suffered more than enough during the last years.