Transgender Inmate Buse Pauses Hunger Strike on 38th Day

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Transgender woman inmate Buse, who is held at Tekirdağ Type F Closed Men's Prison, has paused her hunger strike on its 38th day.

The 40-year-old Buse, who has been in prison for 20 years, went on a hunger strike since she has not been allowed to undergo gender transition surgery despite the related court ruling and medical report.

The rights advocates previously launched an e-letter campaign in solidarity with Buse. The letters sent via a digital platform are conveyed to her in prison.

It was announced on social media on July 13 that Buse has paused her hunger strike.

Speaking to bianet about Buse, her attorney Eren Keskin has stated that Buse has paused her hunger strike for a while and added:

"Buse has paused her hunger strike for now as a public opinion about the issue has been formed. If she is not moved to a prison in İstanbul and the Ministry of Justice shows the same attitude, she will continue with her hunger strike.

"The delay in the gender transition surgery of Buse caused by the Ministry of Justice should be evaluated within the frame of the transphobic, homophobic and male-dominated attitude of the judiciary.

"Saying a person, who will be released from prison 17 years later, that 'the surgery does not have any urgency', means disregarding the person in question. We call the ministry to act in a democratic manner."

What happened?

Buse, who has been held at the Tekirdağ Type F Closed Prison, fulfilled all legal procedures required for gender transition surgery while in prison. Afterwards, she applied to the Tekirdağ Civil Court of First Instance to get a permission for the surgery.

In the medical report dated July 21, 2017 and issued by the 6th Specialized Board of the Forensic Medicine Institute, it was stated, "Considering that the person in question is of a transsexual disposition, a gender transition is suitable in terms of her mental health." The Court granted permission for the gender transition surgery based on this report.

Evaluating the related medical report and court ruling, the General Directorate of Prisons and Detention Houses of the Ministry of Justice ruled that the related report is inadequate and the ministry did not allow Buse to be referred to hospital for the surgery on the ground that "the surgery does not have vital importance or urgency."

Buse previously went on a hunger strike twice, for 30 and 60 days. (ÇT/SD)