Campaigners hail 'historic day for gay people' after MPs approve repeal of Europe's last remaining ban on homosexual acts
Northern Cyprus, the last jurisdiction in Europe where gay sex between consenting adults was illegal, has voted to remove the offence from its statute books.
Turkish Cypriot deputies passed an amendment on Monday repealing a colonial-era law that punished homosexual acts with up to five years in prison.
The change still has to be endorsed by the breakaway republic's president, Derviş Eroğlu, who is expected to support the reform.
Once enacted, the new law will mean that no states in Europe, Australasia or North America criminalise homosexuality. The contrasting trend in Africa, however, has been for new laws banning gay groups to come before local parliaments; this month Nigeria began to enforce harsh legislation against same-sex marriages.
The change of heart by MPs in Northern Cyprus has been partially influenced by neighbouring Turkey's enthusiasm for revitalising negotiations with the EU on its future membership.
Legal action against Northern Cyprus's laws criminalising homosexuality had also been launched at the European court of human rights in Strasbourg by the London-based Human Dignity Trust.
Cyprus legalised gay sex between consenting adults after a ruling by the human rights court in 1993, but the division between the island's Greek and Turkish republics meant many criminal laws inherited from the era of British colonial occupation – including the ban on homosexuality – remained in force in the North.
Jonathan Cooper, the chief executive of the Human Dignity Trust, said: "This is a historic day for gay people in Europe and a major victory for human rights, equality and the Human Dignity Trust.
"Our case before the European court required the law to be changed. Nowhere in Europe now still criminalises gay people and we are proud to say that we have played a significant role in bringing this shameful chapter in European history to an end.
"Laws against private, consenting homosexual acts between adults criminalise someone's very identity and have no place in the modern world.
"These pernicious anti-gay laws, which protect no one and cause deep distress and harm to gay and lesbian people, still exist in 82 legal jurisdictions. But that is one fewer than yesterday, and this we must celebrate."
The trust's case had been supported by the Northern Cypriot lesbian and gay organisation Queer Cyprus. The president's assent to the legal reform is expected within the next two weeks. Reported by guardian.co.uk 7 hours ago.
Northern Cyprus, the last jurisdiction in Europe where gay sex between consenting adults was illegal, has voted to remove the offence from its statute books.
Turkish Cypriot deputies passed an amendment on Monday repealing a colonial-era law that punished homosexual acts with up to five years in prison.
The change still has to be endorsed by the breakaway republic's president, Derviş Eroğlu, who is expected to support the reform.
Once enacted, the new law will mean that no states in Europe, Australasia or North America criminalise homosexuality. The contrasting trend in Africa, however, has been for new laws banning gay groups to come before local parliaments; this month Nigeria began to enforce harsh legislation against same-sex marriages.
The change of heart by MPs in Northern Cyprus has been partially influenced by neighbouring Turkey's enthusiasm for revitalising negotiations with the EU on its future membership.
Legal action against Northern Cyprus's laws criminalising homosexuality had also been launched at the European court of human rights in Strasbourg by the London-based Human Dignity Trust.
Cyprus legalised gay sex between consenting adults after a ruling by the human rights court in 1993, but the division between the island's Greek and Turkish republics meant many criminal laws inherited from the era of British colonial occupation – including the ban on homosexuality – remained in force in the North.
Jonathan Cooper, the chief executive of the Human Dignity Trust, said: "This is a historic day for gay people in Europe and a major victory for human rights, equality and the Human Dignity Trust.
"Our case before the European court required the law to be changed. Nowhere in Europe now still criminalises gay people and we are proud to say that we have played a significant role in bringing this shameful chapter in European history to an end.
"Laws against private, consenting homosexual acts between adults criminalise someone's very identity and have no place in the modern world.
"These pernicious anti-gay laws, which protect no one and cause deep distress and harm to gay and lesbian people, still exist in 82 legal jurisdictions. But that is one fewer than yesterday, and this we must celebrate."
The trust's case had been supported by the Northern Cypriot lesbian and gay organisation Queer Cyprus. The president's assent to the legal reform is expected within the next two weeks. Reported by guardian.co.uk 7 hours ago.