06/11/2026 | Writer: Kaos GL
Seven of the 12 people detained during the November 3 operation in İzmir, including six trans women, were placed in pretrial detention, while five were released under judicial supervision.
Following police raids on homes where trans women live on Bornova Street in İzmir on November 3, 12 people were detained and referred to court with a request for pretrial detention after their statements had been taken. The court ordered the pretrial detention of six trans women, while five people were released under judicial supervision.
Witnesses asked: “Did you know this person was trans?”
In an earlier statement regarding the investigation, the November 20 Association announced that, according to information provided to them by the police, the case file included more than 160 witnesses whose statements would be taken.
People who contacted the association and said they were witnesses in the investigation reported that police had asked them, “Did you know this person was trans?”
The association emphasized that the reported question raised concerns about the nature of the investigation, asking: “What crime could knowing or not knowing that someone is trans possibly relate to? Why is trans identity being placed so centrally in an investigation?”
In its statement, the November 20 Association said:
“The criminalization of trans women based on their identities is encroaching on our friends' lives. Trans women, who are already denied access to housing, employment, safety and equal citizenship rights, now face the risk of being deprived of their freedom.”
What happened during the “My Family Is Safe” operations?
The operations launched in Türkiye on September 12 under the name “My Family Is Safe” targeted LGBTI+ organizations, human rights defenders, activists and journalists. Numerous people were detained, while LGBTI+ rights defenders, including members of Kaos GL's Executive Board and Supervisory Board, were placed in pretrial detention. Five trans women were also arrested in Ankara, and access restrictions were imposed on LGBTI+ organizations' websites and social media accounts.
On October 23, police operations conducted across seven provinces and coordinated from Ankara resulted in the detention of 45 people. Nineteen people, including trans women, were placed in pretrial detention. Ten of those imprisoned were trans women.
Tags: human rights, women, media, life
