Homophobic Attack on LGBTT Association Editor by His Neighbors

Click to read the article in Turkish / Kurdish

Çayan Azadi, the activist and web editor of the Pembe Hayat (Pink Life) LGBTT association, has been subjected to a homophobic attack by his neighbors in the district of Seyran in the capital city of Ankara.

The police officers, who did not listen to the activist's complaints, took the attackers to the security directorate so that they could file a criminal complaint against Azadi.

Speaking to bianet about the incident, Çayan Azadi has said, "I am being constantly watched and harassed. It is a a hate attack as well as a housebreaking. Since the police did not listen to me, I will apply to the Prosecutor's Office with my attorney."

As reported by Pembe Hayat, at around 11.30 p.m. last night (July 30), two neighbors of Azadi said to him, "You immoral, if you leave your curtains open, we watch your house" and "You are a faggot, there is no place for you." Then, those people walked up to Azadi with a knife in their hands.

After the police officers came to the scene of incident, the attackers made statements such as "He is a faggot anyway. We have children at home and we do not want them to see this (referring to Azadi)." In response, the officers told Azadi, "Our customs and manners have a place in the law, you have to close your curtains."

The police did not listen the complaints of Azadi and took the attackers to the Esat District Security Directorate so that they could file a criminal complaint against Azadi.

Çayan Azadi stated, "It was not the first time that such an incident took place. I have experienced similar problems with the same people twice regarding my curtains. They claim that they see me at home during the hours when I am at work, alleging that I behave 'immorally.' It is a constant and systematic harassment. They state that they will continue behaving like that as long as I live there." (ÇT/SD)