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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

E

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

E

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

E

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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Daily Life in Aleppo - Syria

A man sells vegetables beside a war-damaged street in the Halwaniya neighborhood of Aleppo, Syria on April 12, 2025. The area suffers from extensive destruction and a severe shortage of basic services due to years of marginalization and neglect by the Assad regime, with its market now turned into a dumping ground despite local rehabilitation efforts. Photo by Hibatullah Barakat/Middle East Images/ABACAPRESS.COM

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Daily Life in Aleppo - Syria

A view of a freshly painted wall with a slogan near a mosque in Halwaniya, Aleppo, Syria on April 12, 2025. The area suffers from extensive destruction and a severe shortage of basic services due to years of marginalization and neglect by the Assad regime, with its market now turned into a dumping ground despite local rehabilitation efforts. Photo by Hibatullah Barakat/Middle East Images/ABACAPRESS.COM

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Daily Life in Aleppo - Syria

Children play on a swing near bombed-out buildings in Halwaniya, Aleppo, Syria on April 12, 2025. The area suffers from extensive destruction and a severe shortage of basic services due to years of marginalization and neglect by the Assad regime, with its market now turned into a dumping ground despite local rehabilitation efforts. Photo by Hibatullah Barakat/Middle East Images/ABACAPRESS.COM

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Daily Life in Aleppo - Syria

Two men sweep dust and debris from a road in Halwaniya, Aleppo, Syria on April 12, 2025. The area suffers from extensive destruction and a severe shortage of basic services due to years of marginalization and neglect by the Assad regime, with its market now turned into a dumping ground despite local rehabilitation efforts. Photo by Hibatullah Barakat/Middle East Images/ABACAPRESS.COM

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Daily Life in Aleppo - Syria

Vendors display produce at a market in Halwaniya, Aleppo, Syria on April 12, 2025. The area suffers from extensive destruction and a severe shortage of basic services due to years of marginalization and neglect by the Assad regime, with its market now turned into a dumping ground despite local rehabilitation efforts. Photo by Hibatullah Barakat/Middle East Images/ABACAPRESS.COM

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Daily Life in Aleppo - Syria

People move through a main street surrounded by rubble and damaged buildings in Halwaniya, Aleppo, Syria on April 12, 2025. The area suffers from extensive destruction and a severe shortage of basic services due to years of marginalization and neglect by the Assad regime, with its market now turned into a dumping ground despite local rehabilitation efforts. Photo by Hibatullah Barakat/Middle East Images/ABACAPRESS.COM

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Daily Life in Aleppo - Syria

Residents walk past damaged buildings and rubble in Halwaniya, Aleppo, Syria on April 12, 2025. The area suffers from extensive destruction and a severe shortage of basic services due to years of marginalization and neglect by the Assad regime, with its market now turned into a dumping ground despite local rehabilitation efforts. Photo by Hibatullah Barakat/Middle East Images/ABACAPRESS.COM

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Daily Life in Aleppo - Syria

Children play near a pile of debris in Halwaniya, Aleppo, Syria on April 12, 2025. The area suffers from extensive destruction and a severe shortage of basic services due to years of marginalization and neglect by the Assad regime, with its market now turned into a dumping ground despite local rehabilitation efforts. Photo by Hibatullah Barakat/Middle East Images/ABACAPRESS.COM

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Daily Life in Aleppo - Syria

A man walks past damaged buildings and rubble in Halwaniya, Aleppo, Syria on April 12, 2025. The area suffers from extensive destruction and a severe shortage of basic services due to years of marginalization and neglect by the Assad regime, with its market now turned into a dumping ground despite local rehabilitation efforts. Photo by Hibatullah Barakat/Middle East Images/ABACAPRESS.COM

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Daily Life in Aleppo - Syria

Piles of garbage and debris fill a street in the Halwaniya neighborhood of Aleppo, Syria on April 12, 2025. The area suffers from extensive destruction and a severe shortage of basic services due to years of marginalization and neglect by the Assad regime, with its market now turned into a dumping ground despite local rehabilitation efforts. Photo by Hibatullah Barakat/Middle East Images/ABACAPRESS.COM

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Daily Life in Aleppo - Syria

Puddles and trash cover the street near residential buildings in Halwaniya, Aleppo, Syria on April 12, 2025. The area suffers from extensive destruction and a severe shortage of basic services due to years of marginalization and neglect by the Assad regime, with its market now turned into a dumping ground despite local rehabilitation efforts. Photo by Hibatullah Barakat/Middle East Images/ABACAPRESS.COM

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Daily Life in Aleppo - Syria

People work with paint and tools along a damaged street in Halwaniya, Aleppo, Syria on April 12, 2025. The area suffers from extensive destruction and a severe shortage of basic services due to years of marginalization and neglect by the Assad regime, with its market now turned into a dumping ground despite local rehabilitation efforts. Photo by Hibatullah Barakat/Middle East Images/ABACAPRESS.COM

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Daily Life in Aleppo - Syria

Boys walk past trash and scattered debris along a street in Halwaniya, Aleppo, Syria on April 12, 2025. The area suffers from extensive destruction and a severe shortage of basic services due to years of marginalization and neglect by the Assad regime, with its market now turned into a dumping ground despite local rehabilitation efforts. Photo by Hibatullah Barakat/Middle East Images/ABACAPRESS.COM

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Daily Life in Aleppo - Syria

People shop at a makeshift market beside the ruins in Halwaniya, Aleppo, Syria on April 12, 2025. The area suffers from extensive destruction and a severe shortage of basic services due to years of marginalization and neglect by the Assad regime, with its market now turned into a dumping ground despite local rehabilitation efforts. Photo by Hibatullah Barakat/Middle East Images/ABACAPRESS.COM

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Daily Life in Aleppo - Syria

Men sit inside a small, makeshift workshop in the Halwaniya neighborhood of Aleppo, Syria on April 12, 2025. The area suffers from extensive destruction and a severe shortage of basic services due to years of marginalization and neglect by the Assad regime, with its market now turned into a dumping ground despite local rehabilitation efforts. Photo by Hibatullah Barakat/Middle East Images/ABACAPRESS.COM

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Daily Life in Aleppo - Syria

Residents walk past damaged buildings and rubble in Halwaniya, Aleppo, Syria on April 12, 2025. The area suffers from extensive destruction and a severe shortage of basic services due to years of marginalization and neglect by the Assad regime, with its market now turned into a dumping ground despite local rehabilitation efforts. Photo by Hibatullah Barakat/Middle East Images/ABACAPRESS.COM

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Daily Life in Aleppo - Syria

An elderly man speaks with a boy outside a small workshop in the Halwaniya neighborhood of Aleppo, Syria on April 12, 2025. The area suffers from extensive destruction and a severe shortage of basic services due to years of marginalization and neglect by the Assad regime, with its market now turned into a dumping ground despite local rehabilitation efforts. Photo by Hibatullah Barakat/Middle East Images/ABACAPRESS.COM

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Daily Life in Aleppo - Syria

A man spray-paints a message on a wall in the Halwaniya neighborhood of Aleppo, Syria on April 12, 2025. The area suffers from extensive destruction and a severe shortage of basic services due to years of marginalization and neglect by the Assad regime, with its market now turned into a dumping ground despite local rehabilitation efforts. Photo by Hibatullah Barakat/Middle East Images/ABACAPRESS.COM

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Daily Life in Aleppo - Syria

An aerial view shows the Halwaniya neighborhood in Aleppo, Syria on April 12, 2025. The area suffers from extensive destruction and a severe shortage of basic services due to years of marginalization and neglect by the Assad regime, with its market now turned into a dumping ground despite local rehabilitation efforts. Photo by Hibatullah Barakat/Middle East Images/ABACAPRESS.COM

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Daily Life in Aleppo - Syria

An aerial view shows the Halwaniya neighborhood in Aleppo, Syria on April 12, 2025. The area suffers from extensive destruction and a severe shortage of basic services due to years of marginalization and neglect by the Assad regime, with its market now turned into a dumping ground despite local rehabilitation efforts. Photo by Hibatullah Barakat/Middle East Images/ABACAPRESS.COM

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Daily Life in Aleppo - Syria

A child walks past damaged buildings and debris in the Halwaniya neighborhood of Aleppo, Syria on April 12, 2025. The area suffers from extensive destruction and a severe shortage of basic services due to years of marginalization and neglect by the Assad regime, with its market now turned into a dumping ground despite local rehabilitation efforts. Photo by Hibatullah Barakat/Middle East Images/ABACAPRESS.COM

E

Daily Life in Aleppo - Syria

An aerial view shows the Halwaniya neighborhood in Aleppo, Syria on April 12, 2025. The area suffers from extensive destruction and a severe shortage of basic services due to years of marginalization and neglect by the Assad regime, with its market now turned into a dumping ground despite local rehabilitation efforts. Photo by Hibatullah Barakat/Middle East Images/ABACAPRESS.COM

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The Beach A Temporary Escape for Muslims - Sri Lanka

A woman seen from the back, standing in the water and looking at the horizon, on the beach in Weligama, Sri Lanka, on January 2nd, 2022. In Sri Lanka, the Muslim community has faced increasing challenges since the 2019 Easter bombings, when coordinated attacks on churches and hotels by a local Islamist extremist group claimed over 250 lives. In the aftermath, anti-Muslim sentiment surged across the island, leading to heightened discrimination and hostility. The situation worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic, as the government introduced a series of stringent policies impacting the Muslim community. These measures included banning the burqa and niqab in public spaces, closing over 1,000 madrasas, and requiring all Islamic texts entering the country to be reviewed and approved by the Ministry of Defense. These actions have raised significant concerns about religious freedom and the marginalization of Muslims in Sri Lankan society. Weligama, a picturesque coastal town located approximately three hours south of

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The Beach A Temporary Escape for Muslims - Sri Lanka

A woman seen from the back, looking at the horizon, holds her daughter on the beach in Weligama, Sri Lanka, on January 2nd, 2022. In Sri Lanka, the Muslim community has faced increasing challenges since the 2019 Easter bombings, when coordinated attacks on churches and hotels by a local Islamist extremist group claimed over 250 lives. In the aftermath, anti-Muslim sentiment surged across the island, leading to heightened discrimination and hostility. The situation worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic, as the government introduced a series of stringent policies impacting the Muslim community. These measures included banning the burqa and niqab in public spaces, closing over 1,000 madrasas, and requiring all Islamic texts entering the country to be reviewed and approved by the Ministry of Defense. These actions have raised significant concerns about religious freedom and the marginalization of Muslims in Sri Lankan society. Weligama, a picturesque coastal town located approximately three hours south of Colombo

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The Beach A Temporary Escape for Muslims - Sri Lanka

Three young women taking a selfie in front of the beach in Weligama, Sri Lanka, on January 2nd, 2022. In Sri Lanka, the Muslim community has faced increasing challenges since the 2019 Easter bombings, when coordinated attacks on churches and hotels by a local Islamist extremist group claimed over 250 lives. In the aftermath, anti-Muslim sentiment surged across the island, leading to heightened discrimination and hostility. The situation worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic, as the government introduced a series of stringent policies impacting the Muslim community. These measures included banning the burqa and niqab in public spaces, closing over 1,000 madrasas, and requiring all Islamic texts entering the country to be reviewed and approved by the Ministry of Defense. These actions have raised significant concerns about religious freedom and the marginalization of Muslims in Sri Lankan society. Weligama, a picturesque coastal town located approximately three hours south of Colombo, is home to a large Muslim

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The Beach A Temporary Escape for Muslims - Sri Lanka

In Sri Lanka, the Muslim community has faced increasing challenges since the 2019 Easter bombings, when coordinated attacks on churches and hotels by a local Islamist extremist group claimed over 250 lives. In the aftermath, anti-Muslim sentiment surged across the island, leading to heightened discrimination and hostility. The situation worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic, as the government introduced a series of stringent policies impacting the Muslim community. These measures included banning the burqa and niqab in public spaces, closing over 1,000 madrasas, and requiring all Islamic texts entering the country to be reviewed and approved by the Ministry of Defense. These actions have raised significant concerns about religious freedom and the marginalization of Muslims in Sri Lankan society. Weligama, a picturesque coastal town located approximately three hours south of Colombo, is home to a large Muslim population. The town's cultural vibrancy is a testament to the community's resilience. On this final d

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The Beach A Temporary Escape for Muslims - Sri Lanka

A woman seen from the back, standing in the water and looking at the horizon, on the beach in Weligama, Sri Lanka, on January 2nd, 2022. In Sri Lanka, the Muslim community has faced increasing challenges since the 2019 Easter bombings, when coordinated attacks on churches and hotels by a local Islamist extremist group claimed over 250 lives. In the aftermath, anti-Muslim sentiment surged across the island, leading to heightened discrimination and hostility. The situation worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic, as the government introduced a series of stringent policies impacting the Muslim community. These measures included banning the burqa and niqab in public spaces, closing over 1,000 madrasas, and requiring all Islamic texts entering the country to be reviewed and approved by the Ministry of Defense. These actions have raised significant concerns about religious freedom and the marginalization of Muslims in Sri Lankan society. Weligama, a picturesque coastal town located approximately three hours south of

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The Beach A Temporary Escape for Muslims - Sri Lanka

Two Muslim women wearing red on the beach in Weligama, Sri Lanka, on January 2nd, 2022. In Sri Lanka, the Muslim community has faced increasing challenges since the 2019 Easter bombings, when coordinated attacks on churches and hotels by a local Islamist extremist group claimed over 250 lives. In the aftermath, anti-Muslim sentiment surged across the island, leading to heightened discrimination and hostility. The situation worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic, as the government introduced a series of stringent policies impacting the Muslim community. These measures included banning the burqa and niqab in public spaces, closing over 1,000 madrasas, and requiring all Islamic texts entering the country to be reviewed and approved by the Ministry of Defense. These actions have raised significant concerns about religious freedom and the marginalization of Muslims in Sri Lankan society. Weligama, a picturesque coastal town located approximately three hours south of Colombo, is home to a large Muslim population. Th

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The Beach A Temporary Escape for Muslims - Sri Lanka

A Muslim woman in the water cares for her child in Weligama, Sri Lanka, on January 2nd, 2022. In Sri Lanka, the Muslim community has faced increasing challenges since the 2019 Easter bombings, when coordinated attacks on churches and hotels by a local Islamist extremist group claimed over 250 lives. In the aftermath, anti-Muslim sentiment surged across the island, leading to heightened discrimination and hostility. The situation worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic, as the government introduced a series of stringent policies impacting the Muslim community. These measures included banning the burqa and niqab in public spaces, closing over 1,000 madrasas, and requiring all Islamic texts entering the country to be reviewed and approved by the Ministry of Defense. These actions have raised significant concerns about religious freedom and the marginalization of Muslims in Sri Lankan society. Weligama, a picturesque coastal town located approximately three hours south of Colombo, is home to a large Muslim populati

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The Beach A Temporary Escape for Muslims - Sri Lanka

Muslim families gathered on the beach in Weligama, Sri Lanka, on January 2nd, 2022. In Sri Lanka, the Muslim community has faced increasing challenges since the 2019 Easter bombings, when coordinated attacks on churches and hotels by a local Islamist extremist group claimed over 250 lives. In the aftermath, anti-Muslim sentiment surged across the island, leading to heightened discrimination and hostility. The situation worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic, as the government introduced a series of stringent policies impacting the Muslim community. These measures included banning the burqa and niqab in public spaces, closing over 1,000 madrasas, and requiring all Islamic texts entering the country to be reviewed and approved by the Ministry of Defense. These actions have raised significant concerns about religious freedom and the marginalization of Muslims in Sri Lankan society. Weligama, a picturesque coastal town located approximately three hours south of Colombo, is home to a large Muslim population. The to

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The Beach A Temporary Escape for Muslims - Sri Lanka

Two young women taking a selfie in front of the beach in Weligama, Sri Lanka, on January 2nd, 2022. In Sri Lanka, the Muslim community has faced increasing challenges since the 2019 Easter bombings, when coordinated attacks on churches and hotels by a local Islamist extremist group claimed over 250 lives. In the aftermath, anti-Muslim sentiment surged across the island, leading to heightened discrimination and hostility. The situation worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic, as the government introduced a series of stringent policies impacting the Muslim community. These measures included banning the burqa and niqab in public spaces, closing over 1,000 madrasas, and requiring all Islamic texts entering the country to be reviewed and approved by the Ministry of Defense. These actions have raised significant concerns about religious freedom and the marginalization of Muslims in Sri Lankan society. Weligama, a picturesque coastal town located approximately three hours south of Colombo, is home to a large Muslim po

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The Beach A Temporary Escape for Muslims - Sri Lanka

A Muslim woman in the water cares for her child in Weligama, Sri Lanka, on January 2nd, 2022. In Sri Lanka, the Muslim community has faced increasing challenges since the 2019 Easter bombings, when coordinated attacks on churches and hotels by a local Islamist extremist group claimed over 250 lives. In the aftermath, anti-Muslim sentiment surged across the island, leading to heightened discrimination and hostility. The situation worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic, as the government introduced a series of stringent policies impacting the Muslim community. These measures included banning the burqa and niqab in public spaces, closing over 1,000 madrasas, and requiring all Islamic texts entering the country to be reviewed and approved by the Ministry of Defense. These actions have raised significant concerns about religious freedom and the marginalization of Muslims in Sri Lankan society. Weligama, a picturesque coastal town located approximately three hours south of Colombo, is home to a large Muslim populati