Increased Police Persecution Against Transvestites And Transsexuals

Door of Woman Social Center held a press release at the Human Rights Association (İHD) for those transvestites and transsexuals who had experienced police brutality.

The press release was prepared by Aykan Safoğlu, a member of the Lambdaistanbul Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transvestite and Transsexual Solidarity Association (LGBTT), and Ali Gök, a member of İHD’s Administrative Board, and was read by Eylem Çağdaş, a sociologist from the Door of Woman association.

Stating that the transvestites and transsexuals living on Bağdat Street in Istanbul have constantly been receiving fines based on the Law of Misdemeanors as those living in Ankara and İzmir, Çağdaş said that they had started the legal process against this.

“We have filed complaints against those police officers responsible for the persecution against us, starting with Police Chief Ömer Bahadır Gülseren. The persecution has increased after our complaints. They take us to their police cars while walking on the street and leave us at desolate places like Kayışdağı and Fikirtepe. Police is constantly around our houses.”

Safoğlu announced, “Our organized struggle is continuing; we will follow up our reports.”

Amargi Women’s Cooperative, Red Umbrella Sex Workers Net, Global Action Group (KEG) the Revolutionary Socialist Worker Party (DSİP), Purple Hand Eskişehir Homosexual Civil Society Initiative, Pink Life LGBTT Association, Kaos L Ankara, Solidarity Net Against Sexism and the January 19 Initiative gave their support to the announcement. (BÇ/EÜ/TB)