Multiple Murders Highlight Inadequate State Protection
For Immediate Release
Contacts:
In Ankara, Kemal Ördek, (Turkish, English), Pembe Hayat
LGBTT Solidarity Association, Telephone: +90 554 465 57 29 In Brussels, Juris Lavrikovs (English, Russian), the
European Region of the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex
Association, Telephone: +32 2 609 54 16 In New York, Juliana Cano Nieto (English, Spanish), Human
Rights Watch, Telephone: +1 212 216 1233
In New York, Hossein Alizadeh (English, Persian),
International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission, Telephone: +1 212 430
6016
(Ankara, February 22, 2010)—The recent murders of two
transgender women in Turkey highlight an ongoing pattern of violence and the
urgent need for stronger protection measures by the government, four Turkish
and international human rights organizations said today in a letter to Turkish
authorities.
The groups called on Turkey to remedy the conditions that
place transgender people at risk from acts of violence by enacting
anti-discrimination protections, instituting programs to combat prejudice and
hatred, and repealing laws that provide an opportunity for police to harass
stigmatized groups. The letter was sent by Pembe Hayat "Pink Life,"
Human Rights Watch, the European Region of the International Lesbian, Gay,
Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association (ILGA-Europe), and the International
Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC).
"Protecting people and preventing violence means more
than investigating after the fact," said Juliana Cano Nieto, researcher in
the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights program of Human Rights
Watch. "Without meaningful government action to affirm their rights and
ensure their safety, transgender people in Turkey will continue to live in
fear."
Since November 2008, at least eight transgender people have
been murdered in Istanbul and Ankara. The most recent killing was of a
transgender woman called Aycan Yener on Feburary 16, 2010, in the Fatih area of
Istanbul. Yener, whose legal given name was Fevzi, was killed in her apartment.
Her throat was slit, and she was stabbed 17 times. Assailants also stabbed her
roommate, Seyhan Özmemiş, 32, who survived. According to Turkish media,
witnesses reportedly observed three people fleeing the scene, but no one has
been arrested.
On February 8, Derya Y., a 35-year old transgender woman,
was killed in her home in the Altındağ district of Antalya. Police found Derya
Y. in her bedroom with her throat cut and multiple knife stab wounds to her
face and body.
The targeted killings of transgender women are part of a
broader pattern of violence against LGBT people in Turkey. According to Turkish
media, the police found 56-year old Şinasi Halimoğlu, who had arranged a date
with another man, dead on his bed on January 28 with multiple knife wounds to
his back and neck.
In the wake of the killings, the police have made efforts to
investigate and resolve these crimes. In two of the earlier cases, suspects
were caught and prosecuted and sentenced to life in prison and in two other
cases suspects are in pre-trial detention. The remaining murders are being
investigated. However little has been done to protect LGBT people in Turkey,
especially transgender people, from future acts of violence, the groups said.
In the letter, the organizations recommended:
Enacting anti-discrimination legislation that includes
sexual orientation and gender identity as a legal protection;
Disaggregate statistics on violence figures that show
violence against LGBT people; and
Instituting consistent communication between the police and
LGBT rights groups.
"All citizens of Turkey, including transgender
citizens, are entitled to live without fear of murder or persecution,"
said Hossein Alizadeh, Coordinator of IGLHRC’s Middle East and North Africa
program. "The homophobic killings need to stop, and for this we need the
Turkish government to take concrete action to protect transgender people."
European bodies have called on Turkey, a member of the
Council of Europe, and on other states to protect LGBT people from violence.
The European Union, to which Turkey is seeking admission, adopted a progress
report this month, reminding the Turkish government of the need to safeguard
all minorities, including LGBT people. Similarly, in 2009, the commissioner for
human rights in the Council of Europe, Thomas Hammarberg, urged all member
States to enact legislation that would protect transgender people from attacks
and violence.
"The Turkish government should stop ignoring demands by
Pembe Hayat and other LGBT’s in Turkey to take measures to stop ongoing
transgender killings," said Kemal Ördek member of Pink Life. "The
Constitution and the Penal Code need to guarantee equality and
non-discrimination. The Government in turn needs to stop hate murders against
transgender people and violence based on sexual orientation and gender
identity."
Human rights groups like Pembe Hayat have documented a long
history of police abuse in Turkey, as well as violence based on sexual
orientation and gender identity by state and private actors. In 2008, Human
Rights Watch issued reports on violence against lesbian, gay, bisexual, and
transgender people, and on police violence, including harassment and abuse
against transgender people in Istanbul.
ILGA-Europe will visit Turkey in April to assess Turkey’s
compliance with its European and international human rights obligations toward
LGBT people and to document the violence, discrimination and other obstacles
they face in Turkey. The organization has asked the authorities to discuss
proposed measures to address the human rights concerns of the Turkish LGBT
population.
"Turkey is witnessing ongoing violence and hate against
LGBT people," said Silvan Agius, ILGA-Europe’s senior policy officer
responsible for transgender equality. "The Turkish government’s response
needs to address the problems at their roots by tackling the severe stigma
against LGBT people, social exclusion and poverty on the one hand, and the
culture of gender stereotypes that is driving the violence and hate on the
other."
For more information please contact:
In Ankara, Kemal Ördek, (Turkish, English), Pembe Hayat
LGBTT Solidarity Association, Telephone: +90 554 465 57 29 In Brussels, Juris Lavrikovs (English, Russian), the
European Region of the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex
Association, Telephone: +32 2 609 54 16 In New York, Juliana Cano Nieto (English, Spanish), Human
Rights Watch, Telephone: +1 212 216 1233 In New York, Hossein Alizadeh (English, Persian),
International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission, Telephone: +1 212 430
6016