Turkey’s cultural and political circles were finally mobilized against the brutal murder of Hande Kader, a transgender sex worker, on Aug. 17 with a social media campaign titled #speakoutforhandekader and a statement delivered in parliament.
The mobilization follows almost a week of silence following the discovery of the 22-years-old Kader in Istanbul, her body burnt and mutilated. The case, just the latest link in a chain of violence against homosexuals and transgender people, has become a cause for human right activists who say Turkey’s police and justice system turn a blind eye to aggression against transgender prostitutes. A large rally is to take place in Tünel, in downtown Istanbul, on the evening of Aug. 21.
A video underlining the lack of legal, social and political protection experienced by Turkey’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community was shared more than 2,000 times on social media. “We transsexuals live in isolation and fear everyday … If the state fails to take legal measures, as well as action on the ground, against trans-phobic crimes; they will not only continue but increase … We also exist, raise your voice for our rights,” say some of the activists who speak out in the two-minute video.
The video was followed by messages of solidarity from cultural and political circles in Turkey. “You are not human if your compassion is based on the gender of the victim,” TV host and well-known psychologist Aşkım Kapışmak wrote on his Twitter account as the hashtag #handekader became a Trending Topic.
“Peace and unity in a community can only be achieved through a joint fight against violence and hate, whether it is manifested in terrorist attacks, murder by the bullet of a spouse, or the killing of someone perceived as the other,” main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) Ankara deputy Şenal Sarıhan said in a statement, while refraining from making a direct reference to the violence and violation of rights against LGBT people.
A meeting in parliament between various activists and representatives of the CHP and the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) was more precise about what needs to be done. A joint statement read out at parliament said LGBT groups should have more access to the justice system and firm punishments should be given to the aggressors. “So far, most aggressors charged with violence against transgender sex workers have been able to go scot free,” said the statement.
LGBT activists have also launched a petition titled “Transgender murders are political and need to be stopped” through Change.org. The petition, which received 15,000 signatures by Aug. 19, urges the police and the Justice Ministry to find the murderers of Hande Kader and punish them with a maximum penalty.