ANNOUNCEMENT
Ilga is shocked after police attacks on Israel's gay community
September 30, 2003
BRUSSELS — ILGA member organisation Agudah reported to the media last 19 of September 2003 that "Attacks, which have been taking place in Tel Aviv increasingly over the last few weeks, have reached a new level of violence, with police singling out gay men in a park for physical violence. The most recent attacks have left 20 gay men wounded".
ILGA strongly condemns violence against the gay community in Israel, a country that often brags about being the only democratic country in the region. ILGA Secretary General Kursad Kahramanoglu stated that "discrimination of any kind and especially violence against sexual minorities has no place in any democratic country. ILGA strongly condemns the violence reported by our member organisation Agudah and we call upon Israeli authorities to investigate and punish all the perpetuators of violence against gay men".
These dramatic circumstances are especially shocking in Israel, a country that in the last few years has shown a surprisingly liberal attitude and legislation towards lgbt rights. In addition to the 2002 election of the first openly gay MP to the Israeli Parliament, and the 2003 first elected gay councillor in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv has passed three months ago a new legislation that would legally recognise gay couples providing them with almost the same rights as married couples.
ILGA's Secretary General Kursad Kahramanoglu pointed out that "ILGA's thoughts and support are with the members of Agudah and all the lgbt people in Israel" and called all ILGA members, supporters and the international lgbt community to protest against israeli authorities and support Israeli lgbt community".
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ILGA - International Lesbian and Gay Association
Kolenmarkt, 81, B-1000 Brussels, Belgium
Phone/Fax: +32-(0)2-502-24 71, E-mail: ilga@ilga.org
ilga.org/
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Ilga is a federation of over 370 groups from about 90 countries fighting for equal human rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. We also have over 200 supportive associate and individual members.
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