LOCAL > Istanbul Police arrest 17 transgenders victims of prostitution amid criticism and protests

ISTANBUL - Radikal

A demonstration was organized in Beyoğlu against the raid. The demonstrators claimed that police aimed to forcedly move out the transgender population from the neighborhood. DHA photo

Following a raid by police forces 17 transgenders were arrested in Istanbul’s central Beyoğlu district for suspicion of prostitution, daily Radikal reported March 9. Police raided three buildings, first pretending to be customers before breaking down doors to get inside, Social Policy and Gender Identity Legal Office lawyer Levent Pişkin said.

Pişkin criticized the raid as a way of forcing the transgender community to move out of the neighborhood. “At the police station, a transgender detainee told officers they were victims of prostitution. So the officers have broken down the victims' door. This is intended to force them into exile under the label of urban renewal,” Pişkin said.

The Beyoğlu police department has said the incident was merely judicial. “We have carried out the prosecutor’s order. They resisted opening the door,” officials told Radikal.

Meanwhile, a demonstration was organized in Beyoğlu against the raid.

March/09/2013

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mara mcglothin

3/11/2013 5:07:45 PM

AGNOSTIC TURK The problem with your suggestion is -How would these places stay in business since Muslims do not seek out the arms of people, other than their wives???

andrea dealmagro

3/10/2013 9:48:57 PM

Transgenders, particularly those that change from male to female, often have to turn to prostitution to survive because they are discriminated in employment, and that is not only in Turkey. Incidentally, many transgenders are not gay and there are cases where they are not sexually active at all. They just try to live stealth. Sad.

Agnostic Turk

3/10/2013 9:06:59 PM

As long as prostitution is illegal, it will come out in public areas no matter how much the police tries to oppress it. The government should allow private-ownership brothels in designated areas, where prostitutes (be it female, male or transgender) are controlled for diseases, and owners pay due taxes to the government. This is the modern attitude to this issue. But no, may God protect him from committing and sins, our devote Muslim PM will never do that.

The Prisoner

3/10/2013 5:21:57 PM

''If a transgender person (man to woman) wore a headscarf, would she be arrested?'' @Cezer cracking question! Love to hear an answer from the Sultan on that!

american american

3/10/2013 5:00:11 PM

it is fine to oppress gays because god 'approves', but it is not ok for muslims to be 'oppressed'

Daniel Yabancison

3/10/2013 2:10:09 AM

These transgenders must watch out, they might be accused of plotting to overthrow RTE.

cezer skonore

3/9/2013 10:47:17 PM

If a transgender person (man to woman) wore a headscarf, would she be arrested? By the way, all female prostitutes who have been living in my neighborhood wore a headscarf in their private life (well before the headscarf became a political expression). When I lived in Cihangir for a while, there were a lot of prostitutes of different ages living in our building. They were wonderful people. The police officers paying a night time visit to these ladies were the real nuisance.

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