LGBT Rights in Northern Cyprus

LGBT Rights In Northern Cyprus

Northern Cyprus criminalises male homosexuality with up to three years in prison, according to articles 171 and 173 of its criminal code. Female homosexuality is exempt. There have been ongoing discussions to repeal the laws but these have not yet been adopted; arrests for homosexuality still occurred in 2011.

In October 2011 Marina Yannakoudakis MEP claimed that during a visit to Northern Cyprus, the President of Northern Cyprus Derviş Eroğlu promised her he would legalise homosexuality to bring it within line with Turkey, the Republic of Cyprus and the rest of Europe.

The laws are a legacy of British colonial rule, when the island gained independence in the 1960s. While the south decriminalised homosexuality in 1998 in order to accede to the European Union (EU) in 2004, the north's disputed status means it lies outside the EU's jurisdiction as well as the wide European Convention on Human Rights - both of which require decriminalisation.

In December 2011, it was announced that, due to mounting pressure from MEPs, Northern Cypriot lawmakers would repeal the law currently criminalising homosexuality. Dervis Eroglu, current leader of the government, expressed that he would sign the bill into law when it came to him.

This was delayed until two cases were brought against Northern Cyprus to the TRNC Constitutional Court and the European Court of Human Rights. Immediately after the case was lodged to the European Court, the TRNC Prime Minister’s EU Coordination Centre drew up an amendment in April 2013 to repeal Articles 171, 172 and 173 of Chapter 154 of the republic's criminal code. This is expected to be approved but if it doesn't, the ECHR would likely force legalisation anyway.