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China: Cat Frozen as Owner Swings It Back and Forth in Jiangsu

On October 4, 2025, in Jiangsu province, a vendor was seen playfully holding his cat by its front paws and gently swinging it back and forth like a pendulum. The slim cat remained motionless, seemingly frozen by confusion or mild fear, as the man repeated the motion. The owner claimed he was “training” the cat, though commenters urged caution.

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PM Sheikh Hasina's Verdict Day Announcement - Dhaka

A usually busy highway in Dhaka appears almost empty as fear grips the city during demonstrations against the Awami League on the day of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s verdict announcement, in Dhaka, Bangladesh, 13 November 2025. The International Crimes Tribunal-1 stated it will deliver the verdict in the case against deposed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and two of her top aides on 17 November 2025. Sheikh Hasina faces charges of crimes against humanity, including murder, related to the July 2024 uprising. Photo by Suvra Kanti Das/ABACAPRESS.COM

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PM Sheikh Hasina's Verdict Day Announcement - Dhaka

A usually busy highway in Dhaka appears almost empty as fear grips the city during demonstrations against the Awami League on the day of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s verdict announcement, in Dhaka, Bangladesh, 13 November 2025. The International Crimes Tribunal-1 stated it will deliver the verdict in the case against deposed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and two of her top aides on 17 November 2025. Sheikh Hasina faces charges of crimes against humanity, including murder, related to the July 2024 uprising. Photo by Suvra Kanti Das/ABACAPRESS.COM

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Threats made to schools of Tallinn

10.11.2025. Tallinn Threats made against Tallinn schools on social media are believed to be part of an information operation aimed at sowing confusion and creating fear. Nearly a dozen schools in Tallinn received letters threatening them with violence on Sunday. Press conference with ISS director Harrys Puusepp, the PPA's Northern Prefect Ats KÃ¼barsepp, behaviour expert at the Estonian Police and Border Guard PÃ¤rtel Preinvalts. Photo: Tairo Lutter, Postimees

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Threats made to schools of Tallinn

10.11.2025. Tallinn Threats made against Tallinn schools on social media are believed to be part of an information operation aimed at sowing confusion and creating fear. Nearly a dozen schools in Tallinn received letters threatening them with violence on Sunday. Press conference with ISS director Harrys Puusepp, the PPA's Northern Prefect Ats KÃ¼barsepp, behaviour expert at the Estonian Police and Border Guard PÃ¤rtel Preinvalts. Photo: Tairo Lutter, Postimees

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Threats made to schools of Tallinn

10.11.2025. Tallinn Threats made against Tallinn schools on social media are believed to be part of an information operation aimed at sowing confusion and creating fear. Nearly a dozen schools in Tallinn received letters threatening them with violence on Sunday. Press conference with ISS director Harrys Puusepp, the PPA's Northern Prefect Ats KÃ¼barsepp, behaviour expert at the Estonian Police and Border Guard PÃ¤rtel Preinvalts. Photo: Tairo Lutter, Postimees

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Weapon-like object at the Polytechnic School

10.11.2025. Tallinn Threats made against Tallinn schools on social media are believed to be part of an information operation aimed at sowing confusion and creating fear. There was an incident at the Polytechnic School and police received a report that a student had been seen handing over a possible weapon-like object to another student. The two young men were detained, identified and questioned. Photo: Rasmus Rebase, Postimees

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Weapon-like object at the Polytechnic School

10.11.2025. Tallinn Threats made against Tallinn schools on social media are believed to be part of an information operation aimed at sowing confusion and creating fear. There was an incident at the Polytechnic School and police received a report that a student had been seen handing over a possible weapon-like object to another student. The two young men were detained, identified and questioned. Photo: Rasmus Rebase, Postimees

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Weapon-like object at the Polytechnic School

10.11.2025. Tallinn Threats made against Tallinn schools on social media are believed to be part of an information operation aimed at sowing confusion and creating fear. There was an incident at the Polytechnic School and police received a report that a student had been seen handing over a possible weapon-like object to another student. The two young men were detained, identified and questioned. Photo: Rasmus Rebase, Postimees

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Weapon-like object at the Polytechnic School

10.11.2025. Tallinn Threats made against Tallinn schools on social media are believed to be part of an information operation aimed at sowing confusion and creating fear. There was an incident at the Polytechnic School and police received a report that a student had been seen handing over a possible weapon-like object to another student. The two young men were detained, identified and questioned. Photo: Rasmus Rebase, Postimees

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Weapon-like object at the Polytechnic School

10.11.2025. Tallinn Threats made against Tallinn schools on social media are believed to be part of an information operation aimed at sowing confusion and creating fear. There was an incident at the Polytechnic School and police received a report that a student had been seen handing over a possible weapon-like object to another student. The two young men were detained, identified and questioned. Photo: Rasmus Rebase, Postimees

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Weapon-like object at the Polytechnic School

10.11.2025. Tallinn Threats made against Tallinn schools on social media are believed to be part of an information operation aimed at sowing confusion and creating fear. There was an incident at the Polytechnic School and police received a report that a student had been seen handing over a possible weapon-like object to another student. The two young men were detained, identified and questioned. Photo: Rasmus Rebase, Postimees

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Weapon-like object at the Polytechnic School

10.11.2025. Tallinn Threats made against Tallinn schools on social media are believed to be part of an information operation aimed at sowing confusion and creating fear. There was an incident at the Polytechnic School and police received a report that a student had been seen handing over a possible weapon-like object to another student. The two young men were detained, identified and questioned. Photo: Rasmus Rebase, Postimees

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China: Contrast Between Calm Cat and Raging Lightning Thunderstorm in Jiangxi

On September 9, a video captured a small cat sitting indoors while a thunderstorm raged outside a window in Nanchang, Jiangxi. Bright flashes of lightning illuminated the room, yet the cat sat perfectly still, showing no sign of fear or anxiety. The contrast between the storm’s chaos and the cat’s calm composure created a comical scene that quickly drew attention online.

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Don Antonia Columbia At "Free From Drugs, Free From Fear" Conference - Rome

Don Antonio Coluccia on the occasion of the conference organized by Forza Italia FI 'Free from drugs, free from fears'. Senate in Rome, Monday October 20 2025. Photo by Mauro Scrobogna/LaPresse/AACAPRESS.COM

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Don Antonia Columbia At "Free From Drugs, Free From Fear" Conference - Rome

Don Antonio Coluccia on the occasion of the conference organized by Forza Italia FI 'Free from drugs, free from fears'. Senate in Rome, Monday October 20 2025. Photo by Mauro Scrobogna/LaPresse/AACAPRESS.COM

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Don Antonia Columbia At "Free From Drugs, Free From Fear" Conference - Rome

Don Antonio Coluccia on the occasion of the conference organized by Forza Italia FI 'Free from drugs, free from fears'. Senate in Rome, Monday October 20 2025. Photo by Mauro Scrobogna/LaPresse/AACAPRESS.COM

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Don Antonia Columbia At "Free From Drugs, Free From Fear" Conference - Rome

The PCDM Undersecretary Alfredo Mantovano, Don Antonio Coluccia, Maurizio Gasparri FI, Luisa Regimenti Councillor for Security Lazio Region, on the occasion of the conference organized by Forza Italia FI 'Free from drugs, free from fears'. Senate in Rome, Monday October 20 2025. Photo by Mauro Scrobogna/LaPresse/AACAPRESS.COM

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Don Antonia Columbia At "Free From Drugs, Free From Fear" Conference - Rome

Don Antonio Coluccia on the occasion of the conference organized by Forza Italia FI 'Free from drugs, free from fears'. Senate in Rome, Monday October 20 2025. Photo by Mauro Scrobogna/LaPresse/AACAPRESS.COM

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Don Antonia Columbia At "Free From Drugs, Free From Fear" Conference - Rome

The PCDM Undersecretary Alfredo Mantovano, Don Antonio Coluccia on the occasion of the conference organized by Forza Italia FI 'Free from drugs, free from fears'. Senate in Rome, Monday October 20 2025. Photo by Mauro Scrobogna/LaPresse/AACAPRESS.COM

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Don Antonia Columbia At "Free From Drugs, Free From Fear" Conference - Rome

Former Minister Carlo Giovanardi, Don Antonio Coluccia on the occasion of the conference organized by Forza Italia FI 'Free from drugs, free from fears'. Senate in Rome, Monday October 20 2025. Photo by Mauro Scrobogna/LaPresse/AACAPRESS.COM

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Don Antonia Columbia At "Free From Drugs, Free From Fear" Conference - Rome

Former Minister Carlo Giovanardi, Don Antonio Coluccia on the occasion of the conference organized by Forza Italia FI 'Free from drugs, free from fears'. Senate in Rome, Monday October 20 2025. Photo by Mauro Scrobogna/LaPresse/AACAPRESS.COM

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Fourth Positive March organized by Pride Positivo - Madrid

Demonstrator carrying a banner with the slogan 'Your fear kills. Your empathy heals' during the Fourth Positive March organized by Pride Positivo under the slogan 'Faced with stigma, we are the answer', on October 18, 2025, in Madrid (Spain). The march is organized to claim the dignity and visibility of the more than 150,000 people living with HIV in Spain and departs from the Ministry of Health to the Reina Sofia Museum. Photo by Carlos Luján / Europa Press/ABACAPRESS.COM

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Italy: Torrential Rains Turn Alcamo Streets Into Rivers

A violent storm struck Alcamo, in the Trapani area, on Wednesday night, September 10, dropping about 35 mm of rain in just a few hours. The sudden downpour overwhelmed the drainage system and turned streets into raging rivers. Floodwaters inundated garages and basements and swept away several cars, leaving residents shaken after a night of fear.

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Palestinians Fleeing to South Gaza Strip

Palestinians fleeing to south Gaza Strip is seen on a road in Gaza City, on August 28, 2025. A pervasive sense of fear and uncertainty grips the approximately one million residents of Gaza City, who are facing a planned Israeli military offensive that many believe will force them south into areas already overwhelmed with displaced people. Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua/ABACAPRESS.COM

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Palestinians Fleeing to South Gaza Strip

Palestinians fleeing to south Gaza Strip is seen on a road in Gaza City, on August 28, 2025. A pervasive sense of fear and uncertainty grips the approximately one million residents of Gaza City, who are facing a planned Israeli military offensive that many believe will force them south into areas already overwhelmed with displaced people. Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua/ABACAPRESS.COM

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Palestinians Fleeing to South Gaza Strip

Palestinians fleeing to south Gaza Strip is seen on a road in Gaza City, on August 28, 2025. A pervasive sense of fear and uncertainty grips the approximately one million residents of Gaza City, who are facing a planned Israeli military offensive that many believe will force them south into areas already overwhelmed with displaced people. Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua/ABACAPRESS.COM

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Palestinians Fleeing to South Gaza Strip

Palestinians fleeing to south Gaza Strip is seen on a road in Gaza City, on August 28, 2025. A pervasive sense of fear and uncertainty grips the approximately one million residents of Gaza City, who are facing a planned Israeli military offensive that many believe will force them south into areas already overwhelmed with displaced people. Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua/ABACAPRESS.COM

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Rebels Killed at Least 52 People - DR Congo

Soldiers are seen on patrol at the town of Oicha in Beni territory of North Kivu Province, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), on August 17, 2025. According to local and military authorities, more than 50 civilians were killed between Thursday and Sunday in a series of attacks blamed on the ADF rebels in the Lubero and Beni territories of North Kivu. TO GO WITH "Feature: Fear, fury grip eastern DR Congo civilians after deadly ADF attacks" Photo by Str/Xinhua/ABACAPRESS.COM

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Rebels Killed at Least 52 People - DR Congo

This photo taken on August 17, 2025 shows the debris at the town of Oicha in Beni territory of North Kivu Province, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). According to local and military authorities, more than 50 civilians were killed between Thursday and Sunday in a series of attacks blamed on the ADF rebels in the Lubero and Beni territories of North Kivu. TO GO WITH "Feature: Fear, fury grip eastern DR Congo civilians after deadly ADF attacks" Photo by Str/Xinhua/ABACAPRESS.COM

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Rebels Killed at Least 52 People - DR Congo

A soldier stands guard at the town of Oicha in Beni territory of North Kivu Province, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), on August 17, 2025. According to local and military authorities, more than 50 civilians were killed between Thursday and Sunday in a series of attacks blamed on the ADF rebels in the Lubero and Beni territories of North Kivu. TO GO WITH "Feature: Fear, fury grip eastern DR Congo civilians after deadly ADF attacks" Photo by Str/Xinhua/ABACAPRESS.COM

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Rebels Killed at Least 52 People - DR Congo

A man cleans the debris at the town of Oicha in Beni territory of North Kivu Province, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), on August 17, 2025. According to local and military authorities, more than 50 civilians were killed between Thursday and Sunday in a series of attacks blamed on the ADF rebels in the Lubero and Beni territories of North Kivu. TO GO WITH "Feature: Fear, fury grip eastern DR Congo civilians after deadly ADF attacks" Photo by Str/Xinhua/ABACAPRESS.COM

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Rebels Killed at Least 52 People - DR Congo

People clean the debris at the town of Oicha in Beni territory of North Kivu Province, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), on August 17, 2025. According to local and military authorities, more than 50 civilians were killed between Thursday and Sunday in a series of attacks blamed on the ADF rebels in the Lubero and Beni territories of North Kivu. TO GO WITH "Feature: Fear, fury grip eastern DR Congo civilians after deadly ADF attacks" Photo by Str/Xinhua/ABACAPRESS.COM

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Trans Woman Finds Shelter Amid Crackdown - Turkey

A café on Bornova Street is seen in Izmir, Turkey, on July 27, 2025. Situated in the Alsancak neighborhood of the city’s Konak district, Bornova Street is home to a large transgender community that faces increasing marginalization amid growing anti-LGBTQ+ sentiment in the country. Once a space of refuge and social connection, local cafés now exist under the shadow of police surveillance and community-wide fear. In recent weeks, authorities have issued sealing orders for 14 apartments in the area, citing efforts to combat prostitution. Activists argue the crackdown is part of a wider campaign targeting LGBTQ+ individuals during what the government has declared the “Year of the Family.” For many trans residents, public places like cafés remain vital yet vulnerable spaces for community, resilience, and visibility in an increasingly hostile environment. Photo by Middle East Images/ABACAPRESS.COM

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Trans Woman Finds Shelter Amid Crackdown - Turkey

A café on Bornova Street is seen in Izmir, Turkey, on July 27, 2025. Situated in the Alsancak neighborhood of the city’s Konak district, Bornova Street is home to a large transgender community that faces increasing marginalization amid growing anti-LGBTQ+ sentiment in the country. Once a space of refuge and social connection, local cafés now exist under the shadow of police surveillance and community-wide fear. In recent weeks, authorities have issued sealing orders for 14 apartments in the area, citing efforts to combat prostitution. Activists argue the crackdown is part of a wider campaign targeting LGBTQ+ individuals during what the government has declared the “Year of the Family.” For many trans residents, public places like cafés remain vital yet vulnerable spaces for community, resilience, and visibility in an increasingly hostile environment. Photo by Middle East Images/ABACAPRESS.COM

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Trans Woman Finds Shelter Amid Crackdown - Turkey

A café on Bornova Street is seen in Izmir, Turkey, on July 27, 2025. Situated in the Alsancak neighborhood of the city’s Konak district, Bornova Street is home to a large transgender community that faces increasing marginalization amid growing anti-LGBTQ+ sentiment in the country. Once a space of refuge and social connection, local cafés now exist under the shadow of police surveillance and community-wide fear. In recent weeks, authorities have issued sealing orders for 14 apartments in the area, citing efforts to combat prostitution. Activists argue the crackdown is part of a wider campaign targeting LGBTQ+ individuals during what the government has declared the “Year of the Family.” For many trans residents, public places like cafés remain vital yet vulnerable spaces for community, resilience, and visibility in an increasingly hostile environment. Photo by Middle East Images/ABACAPRESS.COM

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Trans Woman Finds Shelter Amid Crackdown - Turkey

Trans woman Helin spends time at her home on Bornova Street in the Alsancak neighborhood of Izmir, Turkey, on July 27, 2025. Bornova Street, located in the Konak district, is known as a densely inhabited area for transgender individuals, many of whom face mounting hostility amid an increasingly repressive climate for LGBTQ+ communities in Turkey. Residents report frequent harassment and violence, including raids and intimidation by both civilians and police. In a recent crackdown, authorities issued sealing orders for 14 apartments on the street, officially citing the fight against prostitution. However, activists argue that the move reflects a broader pattern of discrimination and systematic pressure, particularly during what the government has labeled the “Year of the Family.” In this atmosphere of fear and marginalization, trans women like Helin strive to maintain daily life and dignity within a community targeted by both social stigma and institutional hostility. Photo by Middle East Images/ABACAPRESS.COM

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Trans Woman Finds Shelter Amid Crackdown - Turkey

A café on Bornova Street is seen in Izmir, Turkey, on July 27, 2025. Situated in the Alsancak neighborhood of the city’s Konak district, Bornova Street is home to a large transgender community that faces increasing marginalization amid growing anti-LGBTQ+ sentiment in the country. Once a space of refuge and social connection, local cafés now exist under the shadow of police surveillance and community-wide fear. In recent weeks, authorities have issued sealing orders for 14 apartments in the area, citing efforts to combat prostitution. Activists argue the crackdown is part of a wider campaign targeting LGBTQ+ individuals during what the government has declared the “Year of the Family.” For many trans residents, public places like cafés remain vital yet vulnerable spaces for community, resilience, and visibility in an increasingly hostile environment. Photo by Middle East Images/ABACAPRESS.COM

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Trans Woman Finds Shelter Amid Crackdown - Turkey

Trans women Cigdem (L), Ozlem (C), and Helin (R) speak together outside their home on Bornova Street in Izmir, Turkey, on July 27, 2025. Located in the Alsancak neighborhood of the city’s Konak district, Bornova Street is known as a densely populated area for transgender individuals, many of whom face growing hostility amid increasing state and societal pressure on LGBTQ+ communities. Trans women living here report frequent harassment, including physical assaults by civilians and police raids. A recent sealing order targeting 14 apartments has further disrupted lives under the official justification of combating prostitution. The Turkish government’s declaration of 2025 as the “Year of the Family” has coincided with intensified crackdowns on LGBTQ+ visibility and spaces. Despite this climate of fear, Cigdem, Ozlem, and Helin continue to build community and resist marginalization in a city where their identities remain under threat. Photo by Middle East Images/ABACAPRESS.COM

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Trans Woman Finds Shelter Amid Crackdown - Turkey

Trans woman Helin spends time at her home on Bornova Street in the Alsancak neighborhood of Izmir, Turkey, on July 27, 2025. Bornova Street, located in the Konak district, is known as a densely inhabited area for transgender individuals, many of whom face mounting hostility amid an increasingly repressive climate for LGBTQ+ communities in Turkey. Residents report frequent harassment and violence, including raids and intimidation by both civilians and police. In a recent crackdown, authorities issued sealing orders for 14 apartments on the street, officially citing the fight against prostitution. However, activists argue that the move reflects a broader pattern of discrimination and systematic pressure, particularly during what the government has labeled the “Year of the Family.” In this atmosphere of fear and marginalization, trans women like Helin strive to maintain daily life and dignity within a community targeted by both social stigma and institutional hostility. Photo by Middle East Images/ABACAPRESS.COM

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Trans Woman Finds Shelter Amid Crackdown - Turkey

Trans woman Helin spends time at her home on Bornova Street in the Alsancak neighborhood of Izmir, Turkey, on July 27, 2025. Bornova Street, located in the Konak district, is known as a densely inhabited area for transgender individuals, many of whom face mounting hostility amid an increasingly repressive climate for LGBTQ+ communities in Turkey. Residents report frequent harassment and violence, including raids and intimidation by both civilians and police. In a recent crackdown, authorities issued sealing orders for 14 apartments on the street, officially citing the fight against prostitution. However, activists argue that the move reflects a broader pattern of discrimination and systematic pressure, particularly during what the government has labeled the “Year of the Family.” In this atmosphere of fear and marginalization, trans women like Helin strive to maintain daily life and dignity within a community targeted by both social stigma and institutional hostility. Photo by Middle East Images/ABACAPRESS.COM

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Trans Woman Finds Shelter Amid Crackdown - Turkey

Trans women Cigdem (L), Ozlem (C), and Helin (R) speak together outside their home on Bornova Street in Izmir, Turkey, on July 27, 2025. Located in the Alsancak neighborhood of the city’s Konak district, Bornova Street is known as a densely populated area for transgender individuals, many of whom face growing hostility amid increasing state and societal pressure on LGBTQ+ communities. Trans women living here report frequent harassment, including physical assaults by civilians and police raids. A recent sealing order targeting 14 apartments has further disrupted lives under the official justification of combating prostitution. The Turkish government’s declaration of 2025 as the “Year of the Family” has coincided with intensified crackdowns on LGBTQ+ visibility and spaces. Despite this climate of fear, Cigdem, Ozlem, and Helin continue to build community and resist marginalization in a city where their identities remain under threat. Photo by Middle East Images/ABACAPRESS.COM

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Trans Woman Finds Shelter Amid Crackdown - Turkey

Trans women Cigdem (L), Ozlem (C), and Helin (R) speak together outside their home on Bornova Street in Izmir, Turkey, on July 27, 2025. Located in the Alsancak neighborhood of the city’s Konak district, Bornova Street is known as a densely populated area for transgender individuals, many of whom face growing hostility amid increasing state and societal pressure on LGBTQ+ communities. Trans women living here report frequent harassment, including physical assaults by civilians and police raids. A recent sealing order targeting 14 apartments has further disrupted lives under the official justification of combating prostitution. The Turkish government’s declaration of 2025 as the “Year of the Family” has coincided with intensified crackdowns on LGBTQ+ visibility and spaces. Despite this climate of fear, Cigdem, Ozlem, and Helin continue to build community and resist marginalization in a city where their identities remain under threat. Photo by Middle East Images/ABACAPRESS.COM

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Trans Woman Finds Shelter Amid Crackdown - Turkey

Trans woman Helin spends time at her home on Bornova Street in the Alsancak neighborhood of Izmir, Turkey, on July 27, 2025. Bornova Street, located in the Konak district, is known as a densely inhabited area for transgender individuals, many of whom face mounting hostility amid an increasingly repressive climate for LGBTQ+ communities in Turkey. Residents report frequent harassment and violence, including raids and intimidation by both civilians and police. In a recent crackdown, authorities issued sealing orders for 14 apartments on the street, officially citing the fight against prostitution. However, activists argue that the move reflects a broader pattern of discrimination and systematic pressure, particularly during what the government has labeled the “Year of the Family.” In this atmosphere of fear and marginalization, trans women like Helin strive to maintain daily life and dignity within a community targeted by both social stigma and institutional hostility. Photo by Middle East Images/ABACAPRESS.COM

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Trans Woman Finds Shelter Amid Crackdown - Turkey

Cigdem, a trans woman, shows the injury she sustained after surviving a violent assault by a man, revealing that part of her skull is missing, at her residence on Bornova Street in Izmir, Turkey, on July 27, 2025. She now requires ongoing medical care. Bornova Street, in the Alsancak neighborhood of the Konak district, is home to a significant transgender community increasingly targeted by violence and systemic discrimination. Residents report assaults not only from civilians committing hate crimes but also from law enforcement. A sealing order recently issued for 14 apartments, officially under the pretext of combating prostitution, has further displaced vulnerable individuals. These actions come during what the Turkish government calls the “Year of the Family,” a period that LGBTQ+ advocates say has coincided with heightened repression. Cigdem’s case exemplifies the physical danger and institutional neglect faced by trans women living in marginalization and fear. Photo by Middle East Images/ABACAPRESS.COM

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Trans Woman Finds Shelter Amid Crackdown - Turkey

Trans woman Helin spends time at her home on Bornova Street in the Alsancak neighborhood of Izmir, Turkey, on July 27, 2025. Bornova Street, located in the Konak district, is known as a densely inhabited area for transgender individuals, many of whom face mounting hostility amid an increasingly repressive climate for LGBTQ+ communities in Turkey. Residents report frequent harassment and violence, including raids and intimidation by both civilians and police. In a recent crackdown, authorities issued sealing orders for 14 apartments on the street, officially citing the fight against prostitution. However, activists argue that the move reflects a broader pattern of discrimination and systematic pressure, particularly during what the government has labeled the “Year of the Family.” In this atmosphere of fear and marginalization, trans women like Helin strive to maintain daily life and dignity within a community targeted by both social stigma and institutional hostility. Photo by Middle East Images/ABACAPRESS.COM

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Trans Woman Finds Shelter Amid Crackdown - Turkey

Trans woman Helin spends time at her home on Bornova Street in the Alsancak neighborhood of Izmir, Turkey, on July 27, 2025. Bornova Street, located in the Konak district, is known as a densely inhabited area for transgender individuals, many of whom face mounting hostility amid an increasingly repressive climate for LGBTQ+ communities in Turkey. Residents report frequent harassment and violence, including raids and intimidation by both civilians and police. In a recent crackdown, authorities issued sealing orders for 14 apartments on the street, officially citing the fight against prostitution. However, activists argue that the move reflects a broader pattern of discrimination and systematic pressure, particularly during what the government has labeled the “Year of the Family.” In this atmosphere of fear and marginalization, trans women like Helin strive to maintain daily life and dignity within a community targeted by both social stigma and institutional hostility. Photo by Middle East Images/ABACAPRESS.COM

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Trans Woman Finds Shelter Amid Crackdown - Turkey

Trans woman Helin spends time at her home on Bornova Street in the Alsancak neighborhood of Izmir, Turkey, on July 27, 2025. Bornova Street, located in the Konak district, is known as a densely inhabited area for transgender individuals, many of whom face mounting hostility amid an increasingly repressive climate for LGBTQ+ communities in Turkey. Residents report frequent harassment and violence, including raids and intimidation by both civilians and police. In a recent crackdown, authorities issued sealing orders for 14 apartments on the street, officially citing the fight against prostitution. However, activists argue that the move reflects a broader pattern of discrimination and systematic pressure, particularly during what the government has labeled the “Year of the Family.” In this atmosphere of fear and marginalization, trans women like Helin strive to maintain daily life and dignity within a community targeted by both social stigma and institutional hostility. Photo by Middle East Images/ABACAPRESS.COM

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Trans Woman Finds Shelter Amid Crackdown - Turkey

Cigdem, a trans woman, shows the injury she sustained after surviving a violent assault by a man, revealing that part of her skull is missing, at her residence on Bornova Street in Izmir, Turkey, on July 27, 2025. She now requires ongoing medical care. Bornova Street, in the Alsancak neighborhood of the Konak district, is home to a significant transgender community increasingly targeted by violence and systemic discrimination. Residents report assaults not only from civilians committing hate crimes but also from law enforcement. A sealing order recently issued for 14 apartments, officially under the pretext of combating prostitution, has further displaced vulnerable individuals. These actions come during what the Turkish government calls the “Year of the Family,” a period that LGBTQ+ advocates say has coincided with heightened repression. Cigdem’s case exemplifies the physical danger and institutional neglect faced by trans women living in marginalization and fear. Photo by Middle East Images/ABACAPRESS.COM

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Trans Woman Finds Shelter Amid Crackdown - Turkey

Trans woman Helin spends time at her home on Bornova Street in the Alsancak neighborhood of Izmir, Turkey, on July 27, 2025. Bornova Street, located in the Konak district, is known as a densely inhabited area for transgender individuals, many of whom face mounting hostility amid an increasingly repressive climate for LGBTQ+ communities in Turkey. Residents report frequent harassment and violence, including raids and intimidation by both civilians and police. In a recent crackdown, authorities issued sealing orders for 14 apartments on the street, officially citing the fight against prostitution. However, activists argue that the move reflects a broader pattern of discrimination and systematic pressure, particularly during what the government has labeled the “Year of the Family.” In this atmosphere of fear and marginalization, trans women like Helin strive to maintain daily life and dignity within a community targeted by both social stigma and institutional hostility. Photo by Middle East Images/ABACAPRESS.COM