Gelincik Merkezi

Knife attack against trans woman

[Trigger warning: This news story depicts threats of rape as well as violence. –Trans.]

A trans woman in Ankara almost lost her hand following a knife attack. She told Kaos GL about her experience during the attack, the neglect from the police, and how she was tagged as “military deserter” in the process.

bihter-at-kaosglSource: Ömer Akpınar, “Trans kadına sallamalı saldırı: Kafayı kolla kızım!” [“Knife attack against trans woman”], Kaos GL, 28 April 2015, http://kaosgl.org/sayfa.php?id=19280

Bihter is a trans woman living in Ankara. She risked losing her left hand following an attack on the night of April 7. She was hospitalized for two weeks and currently has 172 stitches in her hand. When the police remained indifferent to her efforts to find justice, the Gelincik Project by the Ankara Bar Association offered her legal support. Bihter, who lost her wedding ring and her solitaire ring along with 230 liras [$85], talked about her experiences with Kaos GL.

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Ankara Bar Association Offers Free Legal Aid to LGBTI

The Gelincik Center established by the Ankara Bar Association has begun offering free legal counseling for LGBTI individuals who are victims of violence.

Source: Çiçek Tahaoğlu, “Ankara Barosu’ndan LGBTİ’lere Ücretsiz Hukuki Destek” (“Ankara Bar Association Offers Free Legal Aid to LGBTI”), Bianet.org , December 24, 2014, http://www.bianet.org/bianet/lgbti/161048-ankara-barosu-ndan-lgbti-lere-ucretsiz-hukuki-destek

The Gelincik Center, a non-profit set up by the Ankara Bar Association to offer free legal advice and counseling services to abused women and children, has announced that it will extend its services to LGBTI individuals.

Attorney Özlem Günel Teksen, vice president of the center, has explained that the center is already offering legal advice to many victims of violence who call from all over Turkey. For applicants in Ankara, she said that the center provided free legal representation in court. She said that LGBTI applicants will also be included in the project.

“We have not received that many applications from LGBTI yet. But during one of my shifts, a LGBTI individual called us and we provided legal advice. We saw that there was already a demand even though we had not made an announcement.”

“Of course we did not reject any LGBTI who applied, when the project was limited to women and children. We thought announcing our free legal counsel and advice services to LGBTI would increase the number of applications.”

“We have some training as lawyers on matters of violence against women. It is our intention to work with LGBTI solidarity organizations and organize training on the subject.”

7/24 Hotline

The Gelincik Center, part of the Gelincik Project started in 2011 by the Ankara Bar Association, serves women, children and LGBTI who have been subjected to physical, sexual, psychological and economic abuse.

If you are subjected to violence you can reach the Gelincik Center around the clock. Attorney Özlem Günal Tekşen declares, “Our hotline is available for everyone in Turkey. We are ready to provide legal advice. However, we can only provide free legal representation in Ankara.”

Gelincik Center Telephone: 444 43 06