Subscribe to Breaking News
Loading ...Transsexual acquitted of criticizing military in Turkey
12.19.2008 2:41pm EST
(Ankara) A transsexual singer has been acquitted of charges of criticizing mandatory military service in Turkey.
The law firm of Muhittin Yuzuak says Friday that their client, singer Bulent Ersoy, was acquitted during a hearing Thursday on grounds of freedom of speech. Ersoy is one of Turkey’s best-loved singers.Ersoy has acknowledged saying on television that if she had children she would not want them to join the army to battle Kurdish rebels who are fighting for self-rule.
The European Union, which Turkey wants to join, is pressing the nation to do away with laws that stifle free expression.
Under EU pressure, Turkey amended a law in April that barred the denigration of Turkish identity and institutions. But human rights groups say the changes did not go far enough.
Bulent Ersoy is an amazing singer with a vocal range that is unbelievable. The first time I heard her sing was on a visit to Turkey and I have been a slave to her music ever since. She is a true Diva. She is also very brave, and has often been sort out for discrimination by political, conservative and religious groups and she always stands her ground. There are many video clips of her on Youtube. Do a search, you will be amazed.
Turkey does not want freedom for the Kurds and it refuses to let people remember the Turkish massacre of a million or so Armenians in the early party of the 20th century.
But to Turkey’s credit, it helped its neighbor Georgia rebuild some of its infrastructure after Georgia (Turkish name Gurcistan, hence the name Georgia… native Georgian name Sakartvelo) was attacked by Russia in August of this year.
this is ridiculous.