On October 22, 2023, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, during the first bilateral visit by a Canadian official to Turkey, brought up the issue of LGBTQ+ rights in his meetings with the Turkish government. Carney stated in a press conference in Istanbul that he and his team expressed their concerns regarding LGBTQ+ rights and emphasized that Ottawa's partnerships do not equate to an endorsement of the country's policies.
Strengthening Strategic Relations
This visit took place as Carney met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in Ankara, where they agreed to elevate the relations between the two countries to a strategic partnership. Carney viewed this trip as an opportunity to express Canada's views on human rights and its expectations from the Turkish government. He said, "Because we are engaged, we are able to directly communicate our views with senior officials of these countries."
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Criticism of Recent Repressions
This visit occurs against the backdrop of a severe crackdown on the LGBTQ+ community in Turkey, which the government attributes to the protection of children and family values. Since September 2023, new measures against LGBTQ+ groups in Turkey have been initiated, drawing significant criticism from human rights groups and some European officials. Carney noted in this press conference that currently, "there are very few countries in the world that have Canadian standards... so that all Canadians can live their lives as they choose."
Carney also pointed out that the Turkish government claims its judiciary is independent and that any investigations or legal cases are free from political motivations. However, he did not meet with leaders of LGBTQ+ groups or human rights organizations during this visit. It seems that Carney's approach is less focused on human rights compared to his predecessors, and he has stated that engaging with countries that Canada considers human rights violators does not mean endorsing their policies.
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