Discrimination and Violence Against LGBTI+s in İstanbul

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Discrimination and violence against LGBTI+ community have been mounting in Turkey. As reported by Kaos GL Association, at least three such incidents have taken place in İstanbul over the last week.

Attack in Beylikdüzü district

Yıldız Tar from the Kaos GL has reported that an 18-year-old young person was attacked in Beylikdüzü district on June 5.

While Han and his two friends were walking on the road in Beylikdüzü, a group of men approached them in a car, harassed them and drove the car into them. They also attacked Han with a bottle.

Han has told Kaos GL the following about the incident:

"I went to my friends in Beylikdüzü. I went out to go home. I had my two friends with me. A vehicle came along. They catcalled at me, saying 'How beautiful legs you have there.' They left, but then returned again. This time, they drove the car into us. They catcalled again. 'Hey, you, in shorts,' they were calling out to me. I turned back and looked them in the eye. 'The skank of men,' they said to me. Then, he got off the car at once. He had a scotch bottle in his hand. He hit me in the face with the bottle.

"When he hit my face, I did not feel the pain at first. But, then, I realized that blood was building up in my eye. I fell down, my friends screamed. While I was on the ground lying, they kicked me. I cried, saying, 'I don't want to die.' I screamed and shouted, but they kept hitting. One of my friends screamed really loud, then, they got on the car and fled."

Violence in Maçka Park in Beşiktaş

A group of five people attacked LGBTI+s in Maçka Park in Beşiktaş district, calling them "faggots". When they went to the hospital after the attack, they were said, "You must be used to such things."

Turgay and his friend were walking in Maçka Park at the night of June 5. A group of five people first said, "Don't turn up the music, you faggots." Then, they attacked Turgay and his friend. Speaking to Kaos GL about the incident, Turgay has said, "We were listening to music in low voice. They told us 'Don't turn up the music, you faggots'."

Discrimination at pastry shop

A non-binary young person was subjected to discrimination at a pastry shop in İstanbul, as again reported by Kaos GL Association.

18-year-old Barbaros wanted to drink tea at a pastry shop in 4. Levent. However, the moment s/he sat at a table there, the waiters came and told him/her to leave. Speaking to Kaos GL about what s/he went through, Barbaros has said that the waiters told him/her that 'it was forbidden for him/her to sit there.' Barbaros has continued as follows:

"And I asked, 'What do you mean?'. 'There is a strict order by the boss, you cannot sit,' he told me. I said, 'Then, you mean I cannot sit even if I pay for it.' I walked away, saying 'You are not the only pastry shop, are you.' After I left the shop, they hurled homophobic, sexist insults and swears at me. 'Fuck off,' I heard them saying and 'look at this faggot'." (EMK/SD)