Turkey: Gay Couple Face 'Death Threats from Family' after Staging Symbolic Wedding

A gay couple in Turkey are allegedly facing death threats from their families after holding a symbolic wedding.

The two men were also fired from their jobs and evicted from their house after staging the ceremony on a ferry in Istanbul in September 2014.

Ekin Keser and his companion Emrullah Tüzün said they were facing severe threats from their families and those around them, Turkish daily Hurriyet reported.

"My family and siblings threaten me with death. When our wedding was featured in the news, our family and friends began rejecting us," said Tüzün, 28. "I used to work as a waiter in Istanbul's Kadıköy district. When the threats increased, my boss learned about the situation and I was laid off."

Keser said: "We have received the biggest reaction from our families. My family knew that I was homosexual, but they reacted against my marriage."

The news came as homsoexuals in the country formed the first umbrella LGBTI (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender/Transexual and Intersexed) organisation to fight homophobia and to ensure unity between LGBTI groups, websites and organisations.

"Because Turkey is an Islamic country, although not in the same league as Saudi Arabia, Syria and Iraq in its vehemently anti-LGBTI stance, there is still need for togetherness and solidarity among LGBTI groups to counter homophobia and transphobia that exists in Turkey," said Burçin Bordanacı of the Turkey LGBTI Union.

Homosexuality has been legal in Turkey since 1858. However, there is not any law protecting same-sex couples' civil rights.

The country was urged last year to protect transgender people after a surge in homophobic killings and attacks against transgender women.