01/12/2022 | Writer: Selma Koçak
“The perpetrators of all the attacks targeting sex worker trans women should be punished considering the maximum limit by identifying the have motive behind!”
Photograph: Berkcan Zengin
Trans woman Çiğdem was found unconscious in forestland in Gaziemir, İzmir, on February 25 at 9.44 am. She had been severely beaten. She had to stay in intensive care for six days. There were fractures in various parts of her body. Having completed the length of the intensive care unit, she didn’t remember the incident she had been exposed to.
The police team reached the video footage of the time of the incident and it was revealed that a man named Ertan K. had shot her out of car and had left her at the forestland. Ertan K. was arrested and taken into custody. It was determined that there were blood trails on the sliding step of the vehicle, at two different parts, and hair residues on the trunk, at the examination made.
Despite the evidences determined within the scope of the examination, Ertan K. claimed that he didn’t beat Çiğdem and he “just slapped twice in the face” during the police interrogation. Ertan K. was arrested on February 26th and an indictment was filed against him on the grounds of attempted murder.
“He has to be punished considering the maximum limit by identifying the hate motive”
Following the incident, the first trial was heard yesterday (November 29), at İzmir Bayraklı Courthouse 11th Heavy Penal Court. Earlier on the hearing, Young LGBTI+ Association made a press statement and said: “All sort of hate attacks and murders against transgender people are political and avertible.”
Within the context of the press statement supported by the organizations like Colors of Resistance, We Will Stop Femicide Platform and Lavender LGBTI+, Young LGBTI+ Association told the followings:
“We stake a claim on our lives insistently and louder, with our sorrow and anger for all transgender people who were murdered and exposed to hate attacks: We are shoulder to shoulder against all kinds of transphobic discrimination and violence and hate attacks, particularly transphobic hate attacks, in İzmir and all around Turkey! The perpetrators of all the attacks targeting sex worker trans women should be punished considering the maximum limit by identifying the have motive behind! All public and social mechanisms should be carried out to prevent hate crimes and murders against transgender people.”
The case was postponed to December 27, pending the forensic report.
Tags: human rights, women
