Resposted from: http://www.bianet.org/english/gender/142887-trans-murder-worries-lgbt-groups

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On Saturday night, a transgender woman (19) was reported murdered in Istanbul by a man who was claimed to pursue a love affair with her.

A transgender sex worker (19) with alias "Günce Hatun" was reported murdered on a highway bridge in Istanbul. Criminal attorney Rozerin Seda Kip told bianet that a man has been arrested for the murder.

"After testifying to the prosecutor, the suspect was sent to prison. Unlike what mainstream media claimed about the plot with transgender sex worker forcing to get into murderer's car, we are investigating the possibility that two might have been in a sort of relationship. New murder desk officers at Istanbul Police Department are more sensitive to trans murders," Kip said.

Mainstream media had different allegations concerning how the murder occurred. "İ.K. (34) headed to police department right after the incident happened. His car's windows were broken. In his testimony, İ.K. said he was driving on his way back home when a transgender woman broke into his car. He claimed to have shot the woman after warning her several times when she swore and threw stones at him. After getting rid of his unlicensed pistol, he returned to the incident venue and got caught," a newspaper said.

Michelle Demishevich from the Greens and the Left Future Party condemned the "systematic" transgender murders in Turkey and their impunity. "We will struggle to build a society with no people being ostracized due to sexual orientations."

"In this case," Demishevich continued, "other sex workers who witnessed the incident claim that there were actually two men shooting."

Kaos GL, an LGBT organization, found the incident demoralizing, considering that it coincided with organizations symposium week on sexual discriminations. "Unless LGBT people are protected under law, right to life abuses will continue. We are calling officials to take necessary measures." (ÇT)