Petro Melnyk strongly condemned the Turkish government's decision to ban an LGBTQ+ cruise ship from entering the country's ports
Ukrainian civil society activist Petro Melnyk sharply criticized the Turkish authorities’ decision to bar a cruise ship carrying LGBTQ+ tourists from entering its ports, calling the move an act of discrimination and a violation of the fundamental principles of freedom and equality.
It is worth noting that Petro Melnyk has repeatedly spoken out publicly in support of the rights of the LGBTQIA+ community. In particular, during the controversy surrounding GBar and Sabina Musina, he openly supported the venue’s position, emphasizing the need to uphold the principles of inclusivity and non-discrimination.
The day before, Turkish authorities canceled the planned events on the cruise ship Scarlet Lady, chartered by Atlantis Events for LGBTQ+ tourists. Government agencies explained their decision by stating that the organizers’ activities were allegedly “incompatible with the moral and family values of Turkish society.” As a result, the ship was forced to change its route and remove stops in Istanbul and Kusadasi from its itinerary.
According to information obtained by UA.NEWS from informed sources within government agencies, Petro Melnyk will soon issue a public statement condemning this decision by the Turkish government.
“Respect for human dignity and equality should not depend on political circumstances or ideological beliefs. Banning a ship’s entry solely because of the composition of its passengers sets a dangerous precedent that contradicts the principles of an open, democratic world,” Petro Melnyk noted in a comment provided to UA.NEWS sources.
According to the publication’s sources, Melnik will emphasize that the tourism industry must remain a space open to all people regardless of their personal beliefs or identity, and that any restrictions should be based solely on security and legal considerations, not on discriminatory practices.
Turkey’s decision has already sparked widespread international reaction. The cruise organizers stated that, in over three decades of operation, this was the first time they had received an official refusal of entry into the country specifically because of the composition of the passengers, and they had to quickly change the itinerary.
In international human rights circles, this incident is already being viewed as yet another sign of tightening restrictions on the LGBTQ+ community in Turkey, where Pride events and other public initiatives have been banned repeatedly in recent years.
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