Stop Discrimination say Transsexuals

" A transsexual friend of ours who said, 'I want to be born again. I don't want to work as a prostitute' has been stabbed and killed. These murders are political."

The Pink Life Association (Pembe Hayat) has announced in a press statement that it will protest against the murder of transsexual Ece in Bursa.

Buse Kilickaya of the association said, "It was not the stabbing that killed Ece, but those who did not give her the right to work and forced her into that life."

Fined for "misdemeanour"

Kilickaya evaluates the treatment of transvestites and transsexuals in Turkey as hypocritical. Transvestites and transsexuals walking in the street are punished with a 110 YTL fine according to the Law on Misdemeanour. She adds, "They fine us and then expect us to pay these fines through prostitution."

Deprived of basic human rights

Umut Güner of the Kaos Gay and Lesbian Cultural Studies and Solidarity Association (Kaos GL) says that the murders of transvestites and transsexuals need to be treated as human rights violations.

"We constantly fear for the lives of our transsexual friends," says Güner and criticises the way the deaths are treated as "magazine" news in the media.

"The Turkish Republic stands by and watches as transvestites and transsexuals are deprived of the most basic rights of education and work."

The Pink Life Association, Kaos GL and other supporting NGOs will make a press statement in front of the Human Rights Monument in the Yüksel Street in Ankara at 6 pm today. (AÖ/AG)