The announcement comes days before more than 150 world leaders gather at the U.N. to launch an ambitious set of development goals. Photo:

The announcement comes days before more than 150 world leaders gather at the U.N. to launch an ambitious set of development goals. Photo:

ANKARA, Turkey –— The U.N. has expressed concern over a spate of violent and discriminatory acts against Turkey’s LGBT community and called on the country to combat homophobic acts and uphold gay rights.

The statement from the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights on Tuesday follows a violent police crackdown last month on a gay parade in Istanbul and the reported rape and assault of a human rights defender. Posters have also appeared in the capital, Ankara, calling for attacks on members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community.

The U.N. statement says “we call on the Turkish authorities to take active measures to combat homophobic and transphobic violence and discrimination.”

Police in Istanbul fired tear gas, plastic bullets and water cannons to break up the annual gay pride parade.

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