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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

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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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

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The Beach A Temporary Escape for Muslims - Sri Lanka

Two Muslim women in the water together care for a 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

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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

A group of women together in the water 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 t

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The Beach A Temporary Escape for Muslims - Sri Lanka

Three children playing in the water gaze into the lens 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 p

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The Beach A Temporary Escape for Muslims - Sri Lanka

A woman seen from the back, along with four children at the water's edge, 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

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Japanese comic exhibition opens in S. Korea

SEOUL, South Korea - Visitors take pictures of character figures from popular Japanese manga series "One Piece" at an exhibition at the War Memorial of Korea in Seoul on July 26, 2014, after it opened to the public. Initially scheduled to start July 12, the show was put on hold when the memorial canceled a contract renting exhibition space to the organizers, citing a drawing in the original comic series resembling Japan's Rising Sun flag, which arouses anti-Japanese sentiment in the country due to its history as a military flag.

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Japanese comic exhibition opens in S. Korea

SEOUL, South Korea - A child poses for photos in front of character figure from popular Japanese manga series "One Piece" at an exhibition at the War Memorial of Korea in Seoul on July 26, 2014, after it opened to the public. Initially scheduled to start July 12, the show was put on hold when the memorial canceled a contract renting exhibition space to the organizers, citing a drawing in the original comic series resembling Japan's Rising Sun flag, which arouses anti-Japanese sentiment in the country due to its history as a military flag.

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Abe's 1st policy speech

TOKYO, Japan - Prime Minister Shinzo Abe delivers a policy speech to a House of Representatives plenary session in Tokyo on Feb. 28, 2013, his first since assuming the premiership for the second time in December. Abe said Japan will restart idled nuclear reactors once their safety has been confirmed to ensure stable power supply and reduce energy costs, a statement at odds with public sentiment.

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Abe's 1st policy speech

TOKYO, Japan - Prime Minister Shinzo Abe delivers a policy speech to a House of Representatives plenary session in Tokyo on Feb. 28, 2013, his first since assuming the premiership for the second time in December. Abe said Japan will restart idled nuclear reactors once their safety has been confirmed to ensure stable power supply and reduce energy costs, a statement at odds with public sentiment.

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Abe's 1st policy speech

TOKYO, Japan - Prime Minister Shinzo Abe delivers a policy speech to a House of Representatives plenary session in Tokyo on Feb. 28, 2013, his first since assuming the premiership for the second time in December. Abe said Japan will restart idled nuclear reactors once their safety has been confirmed to ensure stable power supply and reduce energy costs, a statement at odds with public sentiment.

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China friendship ass'n chief in Japan

TOKYO, Japan - Li Xiaolin, president of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, gives a press conference in Tokyo on April 18, 2012. Li aired concerns over Tokyo Gov. Shintaro Ishihara's policy of buying the disputed Senkaku Islands from their owner, saying a bilateral territorial row only damages public sentiment in the two countries.

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Japan protests Medvedev's island visit

TOKYO, Japan - Japanese Foreign Minister Seiji Maehara is questioned by reporters in Tokyo on Nov. 1, 2010. Maehara summoned Russian Ambassador to Japan Mikhail Bely to protest Russian President Dmitry Medvedev's visit to Kunashiri Island, one of a group of Russian-held but Japanese-claimed islands off Hokkaido. Maehara said at a Diet committee meeting that the first-ever visit by a leader of Russia or the former Soviet Union to the island hurts Japanese public sentiment.

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'Tiger' chosen as kanji character of yr

KYOTO, Japan - Seihan Mori, chief priest of Kiyomizudera Temple in Kyoto, paints the Chinese character, or kanji, for ''tiger,'' at the temple on Dec. 12. The character was chosen as the kanji symbol of the year in an annual poll conducted by a Kyoto-based association. It was chosen because the Central League baseball club Hanshin Tigers has bolstered public sentiment by winning the league pennant for the first time in 18 years.

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DPP leader urges China to understand Taiwan's stance

TAIPEI, Taiwan - Lin I-hsiung, chairman of Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), speaks to Kyodo News in an interview in Taipei on April 6. He said Chinese leaders should visit Taiwan to better understand public sentiment and realize that pressuring the island into unification is counterproductive.

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'Tiger' chosen as kanji character of yr

KYOTO, Japan - Seihan Mori, chief priest of Kiyomizudera Temple in Kyoto, paints the Chinese character, or kanji, for ''tiger,'' at the temple on Dec. 12. The character was chosen as the kanji symbol of the year in an annual poll conducted by a Kyoto-based association. It was chosen because the Central League baseball club Hanshin Tigers has bolstered public sentiment by winning the league pennant for the first time in 18 years. (Kyodo)

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Japan protests Medvedev's island visit

TOKYO, Japan - Japanese Foreign Minister Seiji Maehara is questioned by reporters in Tokyo on Nov. 1, 2010. Maehara summoned Russian Ambassador to Japan Mikhail Bely to protest Russian President Dmitry Medvedev's visit to Kunashiri Island, one of a group of Russian-held but Japanese-claimed islands off Hokkaido. Maehara said at a Diet committee meeting that the first-ever visit by a leader of Russia or the former Soviet Union to the island hurts Japanese public sentiment. (Kyodo)

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China friendship ass'n chief in Japan

TOKYO, Japan - Li Xiaolin, president of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, gives a press conference in Tokyo on April 18, 2012. Li aired concerns over Tokyo Gov. Shintaro Ishihara's policy of buying the disputed Senkaku Islands from their owner, saying a bilateral territorial row only damages public sentiment in the two countries. (Kyodo)

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Japanese comic exhibition opens in S. Korea

SEOUL, South Korea - Visitors take pictures of character figures from popular Japanese manga series "One Piece" at an exhibition at the War Memorial of Korea in Seoul on July 26, 2014, after it opened to the public. Initially scheduled to start July 12, the show was put on hold when the memorial canceled a contract renting exhibition space to the organizers, citing a drawing in the original comic series resembling Japan's Rising Sun flag, which arouses anti-Japanese sentiment in the country due to its history as a military flag. (Kyodo)

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DPP leader urges China to understand Taiwan's stance

TAIPEI, Taiwan - Lin I-hsiung, chairman of Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), speaks to Kyodo News in an interview in Taipei on April 6. He said Chinese leaders should visit Taiwan to better understand public sentiment and realize that pressuring the island into unification is counterproductive.