18 June 2008

Turkish Transsexual On Trial

I must confess that I did not know that Turkey even tolerated transsexuals let alone that a transsexual could become a star! I am a life-long learner and I try and learn something new everyday!

Bulent Ersoy is a singer of Turkish classical music and is one of Turkey's most popular singers. She enjoyed fame as both an actor and a singer before her sex change operation in 1981 and this fame and success has continued post-operation.

However, Ersoy has run afoul of Turkish authorities not for her status but rather for having the gumption to criticise Turkish policy with regard to the 23-year old fight against the Kurdish separatist movement. The campaign against the Kurds has already claimed some 37,000 lives. Ersoy's crime was to suggest on Turkish television that if she had a son then there would be no way that she would allow him to go off and fight the Kurds. This statement was the premise for the arrest and trial. If found guilty then Ersoy is liable for a 3-year prison term.

The actual charge is "alienating the public from military service". The prosecution contends that every Turk is born a soldier and that comments about the military are not protected by any free speech provisions.

Turkey has compulsory military service and every man over the age of 18 is required to sign up for anywhere between 6 and 15 months.

2 comments:

Teez said...

It's probably not worth thinking about but remember Ally MacBeal? The scene where Richard is dating a hot girl who turns out has a .. a.. penis? Talk about implants.

Anyways... it's probably not worth thinking about but Ive always wondered WHY and HOW the heck that is possible.

Rob Baiton said...

Hey You...

Thanks for dropping by and leaving a comment! How's the work and life thing going?

Yep, I remember!

The why, I am not sure...the how is the miracle of modern medicine and science...

Just did not know that Turkey had a famous transsexual artist, but I should not have been surprised as Indonesia has the odd one or two as well! :D