The Pink Certificate
Emre Azizlerli investigates why homosexual men are not allowed to be conscripted into the army in Turkey.
There's a Turkish saying that every man is born a soldier; and in Turkey every man is conscripted for military service of up to 15 months.
There is no alternative to this; Turkey does not recognise the concept of conscientious objection.
But one group of people is exempt - homosexuals.
Their presence in the army is deemed damaging to morale and operational effectiveness.
But the process by which homosexual men are asked to prove their sexual orientation is arbitrary and humiliating.
Emre Azizlerli lifts the lid on the only country within the Nato military alliance to discriminate against homosexuals in this way.
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Broadcasts
- Tue 27 Mar 2012 08:05GMTΒι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ World Service Online
- Tue 27 Mar 2012 12:05GMTΒι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ World Service Online
- Tue 27 Mar 2012 15:05GMTΒι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ World Service Online
- Tue 27 Mar 2012 19:05GMTΒι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ World Service Online
- Wed 28 Mar 2012 01:05GMTΒι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ World Service Online
- Sat 31 Mar 2012 18:05GMTΒι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ World Service Online
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The Making of Modern Turkey—Assignment
Interviews, documentaries & voices from 20th and 21st century Turkey.