LGBTI News Turkey Week in Review: April 28-May 4, 2014

April 28, 2014. Çağla Joker’s Suspected Murderer Apprehended & Çağla’s Murderer Turned Out To Be a Child
The murder suspect who killed Çağla Joker and wounded Nalan has been apprehended. Çağla Joker was gunned down and her friend Nalan was wounded in a home attack on April 21 in Daracık Street, Tarlabaşı, Beyoğlu, Istanbul. H.T., who escaped after his attack, was apprehended in Istanbul and taken to the Istanbul Police Headquarters. In his confession, H.T. said that he had gone to Joker’s home for sex and shot Joker and her friend upon learning that they were trans.
April 29, 2014. No Justice Even On The 16th Court Hearing of the Ahmet Yıldız Case
The case of Ahmet Yıldız, whose life was taken in a homophobic murder in 2008, has been postponed to July 8, 2014. The arrest warrant on the offender, his father, is active. The 16th hearing for the case of Ahmet Yıldız, who was murdered by his father for being gay, was in the Fifth High Criminal Court in the Istanbul Anatolian Courthouse.
May 1, 2014. On The Nature of Trans Killings
It should be remembered that those who are responsible for the hate murders of trans people are also responsible for the rights violations committed against women, children, and all LGBTI individuals. They are responsible for the rights violations of any individual who does not conform to the idealized norm of the “Turkish citizen.”
May 1, 2014. Open Call for 5th Pride Week Exhibition
As we count down to the 22nd Pride Week festivities, we received an invitation for an exhibition. For this year’s Pride Week exhibition, first held in 2009, the title “From where to where?” and a concept of multiple exhibits on a particular parade route have been considered. Seçil Epik spoke with Metin Akdemir and Efe Songun of the exhibition committee about the open invitation and the details of the exhibition.
May 2, 2014. Rainbow Colors of Turkey’s May Day
LGBTI people in Turkey took the streets in 18 different cities for May Day: Let’s get liberated together! LGBTI (lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and intersex) people took the streets all over Turkey on International Workers’ Day. Rainbow flags were carried in Adana, Ankara, Antalya, Antep, Balikesir, Canakkale, Dersim, Diyarbakir, Eskisehir, Giresun, Iskenderun, Istanbul, Izmir, Kayseri, Kocaeli, Malatya, Mersin and Trabzon this year, making it the biggest LGBTI participation on the day.
May 3, 2014. 'Faggots, do not organize in Malatya or else it will be bad!'
Attacks continue against LGBTI people’s (lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and intersex) struggles for freedom, equality and existence. A member of the Malatya Youth Initiative Against Homophobia and Transphobia was assaulted by “unidentified individuals” on April 29th in Malatya. The assailants seized the gay youth’s phone and threatened them: “Do not organize in Malatya, if you go further, we are not responsible for what happens.”
Published on May 29, 2014 | OutRight Action International an LGBT human rights organization
