Start reportage
2.00
- Sound up of the Parade
2.03
(image: gay and lesbians walking in the gay parade in istanbul)
Summer has begun, and Gay Pride Parades crowd the streets of Europe. But behind the out-and-proud façade of this parade in Turkey, lies a frighteningly conservative underbelly. ‘Coming out’ in this country on the brink of joining the European Union, can be dangerous.
2.22
Here in Istanbul, gay parades are a protest - in a country in which the military, the guardian of Turkey’s secular state, regards homosexuality as a disorder.
2.36
(image: Ibrahim walks between the people)
Ibrahim Can was the boyfriend of Ahmet Yidiz. One of the few publicly gay men in Turkey, Ahmet wrote for numerous gay publications.
2.44
- Sound up from Ibrahim at the Parade.
Do not be silent, shout!
Gays are here.
2.50
(Ibrahim walking through his old neighborhood)
It was here, in this quiet residential neighbourhood that Ahmet was shot in cold bold - the alleged victim of what may be the first gay honour killing.
3.05
Ibrahim Can
It happened here. Ahmet had his car parked here .
3.10
(Ibrahim pointing to the spot)
After he was shot, Ahmet tried to get away in his car. But his injuries were so severe that he lost control of the wheel. His car crashed into a pharmacy.
3.22
Ibrahim Can
When he drove into the pharmacy, he just sat there, behind the wheel. I shouted at him. He heard my voice. When I said to him: “Darling, please don’t die”. He opened his eyes. He looked at me for 2 seconds. It was a farewell. And then shut them, forever.
3.42
(pictures of Ahmet with his boyfriend Ibrahim and alone.)
A few months before his death, Ahmet tells his parents he is gay. His conservative, religious father is furious and tells him to go to the doctor, to be ‘cured’. When Ahmet refuses, his father threatens to kill him. Ahmet and Ibrahim go to the police to file a complaint.
4.05
Ibrahim Can
Unfortunately the prosecutors did not take our complaint seriously at all. They did not show any attempt to provide for Ahmet’s safety. Here the killers are the father, his family and apart from them, the state. The state by being passive, by doing nothing, by approving, they showed their homophobic attitude. And they became an accomplice to the murder.
4.36
sound up ambulance
4.40
(image: ahmet on brancard and street corner and Darama showing her ankle)
Not long after the threats, Ahmet is murdered. Here on the street in front of many neighbors. But none of them want to testify. Some are afraid. Others think that, as an openly gay man, Ahmet got what he deserved. Only one person speaks up:
4.57
Here the bullet went in. And there it went out.
5.01
Ümmühan Darama.
A stray bullet hit this woman at the time of the shooting. She is the only witness that is willing to testify.
5.10
Ümmühan Darama, witness
In Turkey these kind of things happen a lot. But there are just a few people who are trying to do something about it. Many want these cases to be closed. But we should not do that. We absolutely can’t. This was a human. And I could have died here as well. There is no forgiveness of this incident. And if we are scared or not, I will not turn my back on this. I will go on till the end.
5.37
One, two and two there at the bottom.
5.39
But Ümmühan is punished for testifying. After going to the police, four bullets are shot at her place. She moves, but won’t be silenced. As a dedicated Muslim she wants to tell everybody that the Qur’an does not accept such acts.
5.58
Ümmühan Darama, witness
You are not allowed to kill people, not in any religion. A person’s private life is his own. The choices are up to him. We cannot judge.
6.12
(image: Ibrahim and Ümmühan talk together)
Allegedly, Ahmet’s father traveled over 900 kilometres from his hometown to shoot his son in this old neighbourhood of Istanbul. But despite Ümmühan’s testimony, Ibrahim fears the case may never be closed. Ahmet’s father is on the run and the police are unable to find him.
6.24
Ibrahim Can
I am always wondering: Where does this hate come from? How can a man kill his own child? How can he hate this much.
6.35
(image streetshots of istanbul with boys hand in hand and woman in black ‘muslim dress’)
Ahmet’s story is far from remarkable. Around 25% of all gay people in Turkey have been attacked as a result of their sexuality. Yet his murder has prompted a bout of national soul-searching, underlining the tensions between secular modern Turkey and a more traditionalist Turkey.
Voxpop
6.53 (man) According to our tradition it is prohibited.
6.55 (man) In Turkey we do not want this.
6.58 (woman) A girl can prefer a girl. And a boy can prefer a boy. I do not have any problem with that.
7.03 (man) It is a disease that I do not approve of.
7.06 (man) If you want to be a good Muslim, you have to give it up.
7.15
(image: shots gay parade)
Still, gay activists hope that one day this will change. And the Gay Parade gives them hope. Because five years ago only a few hundred people where walking here. Now there are a few thousand people marching through the streets of Istanbul.
7.29
Whistle: - sound up of parade
7.33
(image: 2 guys in office with rainbow flag in the background)
The organizers of the Parade are happy with this rise in numbers. Although they know that most of the homosexuals in Turkey are still too afraid to walk with them.
7.41
Firat Söyle, gay activist
I would love to see that everybody everywhere could come out for his sexuality. But unfortunately, it is not possible.
7.55
(image: ibrahimat the parade walking away out of the shot)
And as long as that is not possible, Ibrahim keeps on fighting. Hoping that things will one-day change.
End of reportage
2.00
- Sound up of the Parade
2.03
(image: gay and lesbians walking in the gay parade in istanbul)
Summer has begun, and Gay Pride Parades crowd the streets of Europe. But behind the out-and-proud façade of this parade in Turkey, lies a frighteningly conservative underbelly. ‘Coming out’ in this country on the brink of joining the European Union, can be dangerous.
2.22
Here in Istanbul, gay parades are a protest - in a country in which the military, the guardian of Turkey’s secular state, regards homosexuality as a disorder.
2.36
(image: Ibrahim walks between the people)
Ibrahim Can was the boyfriend of Ahmet Yidiz. One of the few publicly gay men in Turkey, Ahmet wrote for numerous gay publications.
2.44
- Sound up from Ibrahim at the Parade.
Do not be silent, shout!
Gays are here.
2.50
(Ibrahim walking through his old neighborhood)
It was here, in this quiet residential neighbourhood that Ahmet was shot in cold bold - the alleged victim of what may be the first gay honour killing.
3.05
Ibrahim Can
It happened here. Ahmet had his car parked here .
3.10
(Ibrahim pointing to the spot)
After he was shot, Ahmet tried to get away in his car. But his injuries were so severe that he lost control of the wheel. His car crashed into a pharmacy.
3.22
Ibrahim Can
When he drove into the pharmacy, he just sat there, behind the wheel. I shouted at him. He heard my voice. When I said to him: “Darling, please don’t die”. He opened his eyes. He looked at me for 2 seconds. It was a farewell. And then shut them, forever.
3.42
(pictures of Ahmet with his boyfriend Ibrahim and alone.)
A few months before his death, Ahmet tells his parents he is gay. His conservative, religious father is furious and tells him to go to the doctor, to be ‘cured’. When Ahmet refuses, his father threatens to kill him. Ahmet and Ibrahim go to the police to file a complaint.
4.05
Ibrahim Can
Unfortunately the prosecutors did not take our complaint seriously at all. They did not show any attempt to provide for Ahmet’s safety. Here the killers are the father, his family and apart from them, the state. The state by being passive, by doing nothing, by approving, they showed their homophobic attitude. And they became an accomplice to the murder.
4.36
sound up ambulance
4.40
(image: ahmet on brancard and street corner and Darama showing her ankle)
Not long after the threats, Ahmet is murdered. Here on the street in front of many neighbors. But none of them want to testify. Some are afraid. Others think that, as an openly gay man, Ahmet got what he deserved. Only one person speaks up:
4.57
Here the bullet went in. And there it went out.
5.01
Ümmühan Darama.
A stray bullet hit this woman at the time of the shooting. She is the only witness that is willing to testify.
5.10
Ümmühan Darama, witness
In Turkey these kind of things happen a lot. But there are just a few people who are trying to do something about it. Many want these cases to be closed. But we should not do that. We absolutely can’t. This was a human. And I could have died here as well. There is no forgiveness of this incident. And if we are scared or not, I will not turn my back on this. I will go on till the end.
5.37
One, two and two there at the bottom.
5.39
But Ümmühan is punished for testifying. After going to the police, four bullets are shot at her place. She moves, but won’t be silenced. As a dedicated Muslim she wants to tell everybody that the Qur’an does not accept such acts.
5.58
Ümmühan Darama, witness
You are not allowed to kill people, not in any religion. A person’s private life is his own. The choices are up to him. We cannot judge.
6.12
(image: Ibrahim and Ümmühan talk together)
Allegedly, Ahmet’s father traveled over 900 kilometres from his hometown to shoot his son in this old neighbourhood of Istanbul. But despite Ümmühan’s testimony, Ibrahim fears the case may never be closed. Ahmet’s father is on the run and the police are unable to find him.
6.24
Ibrahim Can
I am always wondering: Where does this hate come from? How can a man kill his own child? How can he hate this much.
6.35
(image streetshots of istanbul with boys hand in hand and woman in black ‘muslim dress’)
Ahmet’s story is far from remarkable. Around 25% of all gay people in Turkey have been attacked as a result of their sexuality. Yet his murder has prompted a bout of national soul-searching, underlining the tensions between secular modern Turkey and a more traditionalist Turkey.
Voxpop
6.53 (man) According to our tradition it is prohibited.
6.55 (man) In Turkey we do not want this.
6.58 (woman) A girl can prefer a girl. And a boy can prefer a boy. I do not have any problem with that.
7.03 (man) It is a disease that I do not approve of.
7.06 (man) If you want to be a good Muslim, you have to give it up.
7.15
(image: shots gay parade)
Still, gay activists hope that one day this will change. And the Gay Parade gives them hope. Because five years ago only a few hundred people where walking here. Now there are a few thousand people marching through the streets of Istanbul.
7.29
Whistle: - sound up of parade
7.33
(image: 2 guys in office with rainbow flag in the background)
The organizers of the Parade are happy with this rise in numbers. Although they know that most of the homosexuals in Turkey are still too afraid to walk with them.
7.41
Firat Söyle, gay activist
I would love to see that everybody everywhere could come out for his sexuality. But unfortunately, it is not possible.
7.55
(image: ibrahimat the parade walking away out of the shot)
And as long as that is not possible, Ibrahim keeps on fighting. Hoping that things will one-day change.
End of reportage