Turkey Bars LGBT Cruise Ship

Turkish authorities have barred the cruise ship Scarlet Lady from docking at the ports of Kuşadası and Istanbul because it was chartered by the US-based LGBT travel company Atlantis Events.

According to CNN, Turkish authorities justified the decision by citing the need to protect "moral values" and "family principles". Officials in Aydın province said the group's planned activities were incompatible with local social values and refused permission for the visit.

Authorities were also concerned by promotional material advertising a party in Istanbul, leading police to raid one of the planned venues. Atlantis Events said the material did not originate from the company. The cruise has since changed course and will instead visit Cairo and the Greek island of Crete.

According to Atlantis Events CEO Rich Campbell, it is the first time in the company's 36-year history that one of its cruises has been prevented from docking solely to allow passengers to disembark. The ship is carrying around 1,900 passengers, most of them from the US.

(mja)