The man who attacked refugee trans woman Asya 'should receive the heaviest sentence'

Photo: csgorselarsiv.org/Özge Özgüner

Click to read the article in Turkish

"Our friend's back is full of burns. Both of her eyes are in very bad condition. One of her eyes totally lost vision. The defendant who made our friend become like this is arrested for 'injury.' But we want him to be tried and punished for 'attempted murder'."

Emre Boztürk, who carried out an acid attack on Asya (18), a refugee trans woman from Syria, was detained by the gendarmerie in Eskipazar, Karabük. Emre Bozkurt, who was taken to the court on March 13, was remanded in custody for "intentional injury."

While Asya's treatment is continuing in Kocaeli province, her friends are trying not to leave her alone.

Speaking to bianet, they said Asya was well cared for but they were sometimes subjected to homophobic treatment by hospital staff.

"We are here for our friend but the hospital staff treats us badly. They look at us like they are disgusted by us. Our friend is so lonely here. We gave her a phone to talk to her family. She could barely speak with her family. They even wrapped the phone in galoshes. They always look at us like they are disgusted.

"This situation makes us very sad but we are very concerned that they won't treat our friend, so we stay silent.

"Asya is a Syrian woman and she needs more solidarity. We want the man who attacked her to receive the heaviest sentence and to be tried for 'murder'."

LGBTI+ rights in Europe and Turkey

The European Parliament has declared the European Union (EU) LGBTI+ "freedom zone."

The decision was in response to the attempts by some municipalities in Poland to create "LGBTI+-free zones" and homophobic remarks by Hungary's PM Victor Orban.

The European Parliament stated that every kind of hatred and discrimination against LGBTI+s is against the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights and conventions on human rights.

According to the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association (ILGA) Europe's annual Rainbow Index, which was released last month, Turkey is second to last in Europe in LBGTI+ rights.

"A great number of hate speech incidents and campaigns took place again [in 2020]. In some instances, the government or public figures blamed LGBT people or gay men for the COVID-19 pandemic, and for spreading other illnesses," says the report.

"On 7 May, the EU LGBTI Intergroup called out Turkey's political and religious leaders on spreading hate against LGBTI people and people living with HIV.

"A number of hate campaigns were run on social media, and endorsed by leading political figures."

The report also points out the bans on LGBTI+ demonstrations and some court decisions finding these bans unlawful.

Murat Köylü, the Human Rights Program Coordinator for the Kaos GL Association, told bianet in 2019 that Turkey was not implementing the precedent of the Council of Europe and the European Court of Human Rights in terms of LGBTI+ rights. (EMK/VK)