'They think they can do anything to us': Trans women in İzmir face increasing law enforcement harassment

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Harassment by the police and neighborhood guards in Alsancak, İzmir in western Türkiye is making life very difficult for trans women lately.

bianet has spoken to Helin, one of the trans women living on Bornova Street in Alsancak.

"They attempted to fine me for walking my dog," she told bianet, adding that neighborhood guards were waiting in front of her house every day a month earlier. They would threaten her and wouldn't allow her to even go to the supermarket, she said.

How is the harassment by the police and neighborhood guards at the moment?

There are fewer assaults at the moment compared to a month ago. But last month they tried to fine me only because I was standing on the street. The guard asked me "Why are you standing on the street?" My home is here and I am standing on the street in front of my home. I am talking to a customer or not talking, this does not concern them. They then tried to take me by force but I resisted.

At the moment there are no new fines but a guard is waiting at every corner of the street. A new method they use is to seal off the houses. A radical solution. Only in the last month five houses have been closed in the street where I live. Customers were taken from the street. They are not saying that we should not walk on the street anymore, but now they are closing the houses directly.

"What will I eat?"

I understand that you can make much less money because they disturb the people who come here, correct?

Of course. I meet my customers at my house. However, now I have to stop working at 22-22:30 if I start around 19 because either the guards or the police are coming. My customers may get into trouble.

And what will I eat if I cannot work? Besides, I live alone. I only have a house. I have a cat, a dog and nearly 20 flowers. Say they sealed off the house. Who will feed the fish, who will water the flowers? I stop working two-three hours earlier because I do not want them to seal off the house. That is to say, I have to stop when they come. Sometimes I finish the day without making the first sale. I am stressed that the police will come to my house and seal off my house.

What are you planning to do in such a case? Is it possible for you to work elsewhere in İzmir at the moment?

There is Karabağlar but it is not a safe place and is far from the center. Pınarbaşı is by the highway, many of our friends have been shot dead or their money was seized by force. Just like Tarlabaşı (in Taksim, Istanbul). You do not know if they are going to shoot you, cut you in pieces, seize your money by force or injure you. Therefore I do not work in any other place. At least I know Alsancak. At least there are cameras. Just the same, so many of our friends have been killed, stabbed, and their money seized by force. Of course, I am afraid. I cannot die saying I have to make money. Unfortunately, we have to accept our fate in Alsancak.

What was the most extreme case you have experienced?

Which one should I tell? They fined me for standing on the road. I reside here, this is my home, and I have the title. My supermarket is here, my stores are here. This is my space to live. How am I not allowed to walk on the street?

Once they tried to fine me for walking my dog. I asked why. They say 'We will. We will do it another time if not now.' Thank God, a friend of mine filmed it, and that fine was canceled. How should I tell you? They are standing in front of my home every day. Just outside my home. There are also friends of ours who were beaten, after being raided by neighborhood guards, attacked by someone every day, and in very bad condition. Their complaints are being processed.

"None of these is a crime"

Is it the neighborhood guards disturbing you more than the police?

Yes. Because the neighborhood guards act like policemen but they do not know any better. Police officers have at least three months of training. The neighborhood guards think they can do anything to the people. But no, I have rights. I can walk on the street, I can wear a mini skirt, I can go around with huge high heel shoes, I can dance on the street. None of these is a crime. Neighborhood guards don't know these.

They come and ask me, "What have you talked about with that man?" Is talking made illegal? Maybe I am discussing the economy. Maybe he is asking me for an address. You cannot know. There have been huge discussions here on this, even fighting. The neighborhood guards also had to take a step back. But then they started to take the customer or to seal off our houses.

"We do not want any attacks on us"

Is there anything you would like to add?

I did everything I could until now. I participated in protests, collected signatures and released statements for the press, but unfortunately, nothing changed.

There were 300 trans people when I first came to Alsancak. Now there are only 60-70 of us. Everyone has scattered around.

We are making our living. I was a civil servant and I was suspended from duty because of my identity. I have to make a living somehow. Do you understand?"

"Young people threw stones at me yesterday on the street. For no reason. I could be hit on the head, seriously injured with that stone. We come up with such events so often. Why? I am 38 years old now. I am working, taking my life in my hand. Will the police come? Will those youths pull out a knife? I am stressed by something new every day. Stress, stress, stress. There is nothing that this world is offering me." (TY/PE/VK)