Discrimination against LGBTI+s at grocery store, cafe

Photo: KaosGL

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An employee of a grocery store in Şişli, İstanbul, attacked a trans woman yesterday (July 20) while she was passing in front of the store.

Azmi Ateş, an employee at Namlı Market, swore at and threatened trans woman G. with "stabbing her in the stomach in a dark corner," Kaos GL reported.

"This is not just a transphobic incident, it's an anti-woman incident as well. Both phobias are there. There was another attack in the past weeks," G. told Kaos GL. "... I called the police. While I was waiting, he began taking my photos ... I tried to block him. At that moment, he began to hit me. He broke a water bottle in my head. He used sexist, bad language. He threatened me with death."

The same person previously attacked a refugee child and another LGBTI+ activist, said the attorney of the trans woman, Levent Pişkin.

"The perpetrator, Azmi Ateş, has been detained. He will be released after giving a statement. An investigation has been launched for deliberate injury," he added.

G. requested protection from the police.

After the attack, LGBTI+ activists staged a protest in front of the grocery store. Members of Kurtuluş Neighbors Solidarity Network, Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) Şişli district organization and Şişli City Council participated in the demonstration.

Reading out a statement, the activists said they wouldn't stay silent against attacks on LGBTI+s, women and refugees.

"We are closed for LGBT"

A confectionery cafe named "Keyf-i Künefe" in the southern province of Osmaniye hung a banner that read, "We are closed for LGBT" on its door.

Attorney Kerem Dikmen, a legal advisor at the Kaos GL Association, said that preventing LGBTI+s from obtaining any kind of goods and services is discrimination. (EMK/VK)