Colin Stewart is a 45-year journalism veteran living in Southern…
Preparations are back on track to repeal the law against male homosexual activity in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.
The island of Cyprus in the eastern Mediterranean Sea is divided between the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus and the southern Republic of Cyprus.
Legislation drawn up by the prime minister’s European Union Coordination Centre would repeal three sections of the area’s penal code, which provide for prison sentences of up to five years for male-male sexual relations.
Those sections of the law currently face legal challenges in the local Constitutional Court and in the European Court of Human Rights.
The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus is the last remaining area of Europe with laws specifically outlawing same-sex sexual activity.
After a delay, the work seems to be nearing completion. Pink News reported:
Dervis Eroglu, president of Northern Cyprus
Efforts to repeal the ban on homosexuality in Turkish-controlled Northern Cyprus are to be revived, with the decriminalisation expected to be in force by Christmas. …
The leader of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus Dr Dervis Eroglu, promised … that the law banning homosexuality would be repealed two years ago. [But because] of early elections, proposals which were put before officials earlier this year will need to be re-tabled.
Three political parties in Northern Cyprus — Republican Turkish Party, currently the largest; its partner, the Democratic Party; and the smaller Communal Democracy Party have promised the repeal within two months.
