"HOSE" SULEYMAN (report by Yuksel Mutlu, translated in extracts)

The deputy chief of police (for ordinary crimes), known among his friends as "crazy Dogan", Dogan Karakalan had opened war against homosexuals settling in Cihangir quarter. He did not refrain from using axes to open the doors and following complaints he would make the next raid on the same flat. But then he died in a traffic accident in Eskisehir and the war with axes against homosexuals was delayed for a while...

But the comfortable live of homosexuals did not last long. Suleyman Ulusoy became team chief in Beyoglu. He carried out operations in Cihangir by day and night and became famous because instead of a truncheon he used a hose... Besides the homosexuals he also fought against the black population of Cihangir...

When Kemal Yazicioglu was appointed Chief of Police in Istanbul, Ergun Oztaner became Chief of Police for Beyoglu District. He was known as a "bomb expert". Shop-owners from Cihangir went to Ergun Oztaner and told him that years ago there had been "hose Suleyman", the only one able to bring order to the quarter, but he had been removed from his post. They even collected signatures to get Suleyman Ulusoy'u back. Finally the petition came to Kemal Yazicioglu and "hose Suleyman" came back to Beyoglu.

The homosexuals believed that they were supported by deputies and even ministers, but "hose Suleyman" was supported by the local population. They complained that they could not get to their homes because the street was crowded with prostitutes who wanted to make Ulker Street a brothel... Together with the Chief of Beyoglu Police, Ergun Oztaner, chief commissioner Suleyman Ulusoy worked day and night, not only against theft and pick-pocketing but against the homosexuals who had chosen Cihangir as their living place...

Difficult life started for the homosexuals living in the Beyoglu area, when "hose Suleyman" returned:

"Everything started before Habitat. The cells at the police station were kept empty for us. We were rounded up and he chose one of us to beat with the hose saying that we shouldn't walk in the street... We were forced to move away. Formerly we did (our work) secretly, but now we are in the streets "hitch-hiking".

Turkish daily "Hürriyet" of 29 October 1996

Mrs. Gungor, the one who repelled the transvestites report (interview) by Isin Gormus (translated in extracts)

We understand that besides Demet and a few friends no other transvestites are left in Ulker Street. Madame Gungor tells us: "I was born in Istanbul in 1935. My grandmother had been living in the serail. I came here three years ago. Since I came home from work only at 9 o'clock at night I first did not realize that transvestites were living here. However, I would have moved here even if I had known of it before. Why should I move from here, let them move away...

"They accuse us of anything, because they have two souls, one of a woman and one of a man. They treat you and us differently. As if they are lead by the devil... All of them have empty bottles in front of their windows. They throw them at us or the police... They said that I had started the war (with the Turkish flag) because I own 11 appartements and couldn't find tenants because of the transvestites. Well you can see for yourselves, there are even journalists among our tenants, but now that the 'turned ones' (transsexuals) have moved I may find even more tenants...

"The police team that came after Habitat, Kemal Yazicioglu and his staff have a lot of credit in this. From a simple doorman up to the chief they all supported the people and drove them away without hitting anyone..."