Beşiktaş Municipal Assembly member from CHP and human rights and LGBT activist Sedef Çakmak has evaluated hate speech in media for us. During the municipality elections, Çakmak became a target of hate speech in various media outlets as an openly gay woman. We’ve discussed the difficulties she has faced during the electoral process and in her personal life.
hate murders
Why is Ahmet Yıldız’s murderer still not found after six years?
The trial regarding Ahmet Yıldız’ murder by his father was postponed again. His father is still not found. Ümmühan Darama who was injured during the incident also spoke out against the lack of justice. Attorney Fırat Söyle stated, “We have not been able to make the slightest progress in all this time.”
Source: Yıldız Tar, “Ahmet Yıldız’ın katili 6 yıldır neden bulunamıyor?” (“Why is Ahmet Yıldız’s murderer still not found after six years?”), Kaos GL, 13 November 2014, http://kaosgl.org/sayfa.php?id=17941
Ahmet Yıldız
Ahmet Yıldız was killed [by his father] in a homophobic murder in 2008. The 18th hearing of his case took place today [13 November] at the 5th High Criminal Court of the Istanbul Anatolian Courthouse.
The panel of judges decided to wait for the enforcement of the red notice search warrant for Yıldız’s murderer father Yahya Yıldız. The panel also put forth that the Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office and the Police Department be consulted for information. The case was postponed again. The next hearing will take place on 26 March 2015 at 10:30.
“Neither the Turkish police nor the gendarmerie have been able to find this one person for six years”
Thousands March on Istiklal Avenue for ‘Trans Pride’
Source: Yıldız Tar, “Binler ‘Trans Onuru’ İçin İstiklal’de Yürüdü” (“Thousands March on Istiklal Avenue for ‘Trans Pride’”) KaosGL.org, 22 June 2014, http://kaosgl.org/sayfa.php?id=16929
Thousands of people marched on Istiklal Avenue to claim trans pride and say that the state is the real perpetrator in trans murders.
The fifth trans pride week, which was organized around the theme “the state is the real perpetrator” ended with a march on Istiklal Street. The week, which commenced with putting up the rainbow flag on the Bosphorus Bridge, was also concluded with fitting glamour. Thousands of people chanted, “We are transvestites. We are here. Get used to it. We are not going anywhere.”
On The Skirts of The Ballerina: Trans X Istanbul
Source: Senem Aytaç, “Balerinanın Eteğinde: Trans x İstanbul” (“On the Skirts of the Ballerina: Trans x Istanbul”) Altyazı, 30 May 2014, http://www.altyazi.net/gozecarpanlar/balerinanin-eteginde-trans-x-istanbul/
Maria Binder and Ebru Kırancı
In Maria Binder’s Trans X Istanbul, her camera follows trans activist Ebru Kırancı and exposes the struggle for survival of trans individuals in Turkey who face exile, harassment, rape and murder.
Interview by Senem Aytaç
Photos by Bahar Gökten
Trans X Istanbul (2014) chose as its subject trans individuals’ struggle to hold onto their living spaces in Avcılar Meis Housing Complex, Tarlabaşı and Gezi Park. It was directed jointly by Maria Binder and her mother, both of whom had moved to Turkey from Germany. Its main focus is the activist, Ebru Kırancı. This very personal documentary follows Kırancı both in her political efforts and in her personal life. It depicts the impossibilities of living as a trans individual in Istanbul while also clearly describing the urban transformation that Istanbul is going through. Kırancı’s very strong presence on screen, her strong will and capability, as well as her connection with the audience, ensures that the documentary is fascinating and absorbing. The documentary, part of the multi-platform effort “Transxturkey” which aims to raise awareness and increase participation for equal rights of trans individuals, continues its journey at Documentarist Istanbul Documentary Days after being premiered at the Istanbul Film Festival.
We had a chance to chat with Maria Binder and Ebru Kırancı on various matters including how they met, how the film was made, and their personal story as part of the trans rights struggle in Turkey.