Popular LGBTI+ Sixties pub shut down in Ankara

Sixties Pub, a popular LGBTI+ bar in Ankara’s Çankaya district has been shut down following an investigation and subsequent closure decision. 

According to reporting by the LGBTI+ focused news outlet Kaos GL the investigation was carried out by the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office. The Prosecutor’s Office asserts that “entertainment for sexual purposes” and “obscene” actions “contrary to general morality” were carried out in the establishment.  

Seven people detained in the operation 

The Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office announced that the investigation was made in response to complaints submitted on the Presidential Communication Center (CİMER), an online platform that allows citizens to directly contact the Presidency of Turkey and issue suggestions, complaints or request information. 

Originally proposed as a measure to increase state transparency, CİMER has become a go-to complaint tool for citizens, who have used it to report on a wide variety of activities, including those of a political nature. 

During the operation, seven people, including the business owner, manager in charge and employees were detained. The suspects were arrested under articles in the Turkish Penal Code pertaining to “obscenity” and “prostitution.” 

The Human Rights Association criticizes anti-LGBTI+ media publications 

Some Turkish news outlets used discriminatory, anti-LGBTI+ language in their coverage of the incident. 

According to reporting by Kaos GL, the A Haber news outlet used the phrase “LGBT perversion” in its headlines.  

In a statement following the operation, the Human Rights Association (İHD) drew attention to news publications targeting LGBTI+ individuals. İHD said that these publications fuel hate speech and discrimination, and called on the media to use inclusive, human rights-based language in their reporting.  

(NÖ/İK)