Pakistan

How Aliraza Alia was

Since a couple of months, Alia finally feel comfortable in your own skin. Since she lives openly as a woman. In Germany, not in her home country of Pakistan. There, she was afraid to acknowledge her gender identity.

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00:30

Alia on the reaction of your mother to the son, no one could be

Even before he comes to school, white Aliraza, that he’s in the wrong body. Play and Romp with other guys, this is nothing for him. Instead, he’s more interested in dolls, jewelry, or Makeup. With five or six years it can take for the first Time in words what is going on with him and speaks with his mother about it. “I told my mom that I’m actually not a Boy but a girl.” The mother takes the statement first, not seriously, thinks it’s a temporary Phase, it is not untypical for a small child. You can Aliraza grant. “You thought, grow out of it – and eventually you then have a young man.”

Alia laughs out loud, as she tells the. Because the idea for it is so absurd. Because she has Aliraza long since left behind, and now Alia. She also lives in her Pakistani hometown of Lahore, but thousands of miles away in Cologne. For three and a half years, where she studied environmental Sciences. She goes regularly to the counseling center, rubicon, a point of contact for lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, or Transgender people. And she now lives openly as a woman. You wear make-up and shaved, their movements are emphasized feminine. Even if she is physically still a man. On time – because that’s about to change. “I’m already on hormones. And I hope that I can leave in two years to operate.” Her eyes light up when she speaks of it. The day you can’t wait. Because being a woman, for you this means: to be Free.

The third sex: the stage of welcome – otherwise ejected

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00:45

Alia on the optical expectations of the “classic” Trans-woman

“I wanted to go somewhere where I don’t have to hide my identity. Where I can live as a free man,” she says. In Pakistan you don’t dare do this to the end, remains officially Aliraza. Also, if you sometimes secretly, other Transgender people, just like you. Can’t identify with their gender assigned at birth. However, in your next environment no one knows how it really is to you. That you suffer to be a Boy. Not even your closest trust inaugurates. Only in the past year, as she lives in Germany, she tells her mother and sister everything. “I was just scared to say it to you. Afraid that my mom says: You’re not my child. I’ll throw you out, and I would like to have no more contact with you. I know a lot of it is just as delivered.” Alia has luck. Your family keeps more to her. More of an exception than the rule.

“Transgender people are pushed into Pakistan to the brink and discriminated against. You will be violated by the state, of society and also of their families, ” says Saroop Ijaz, the Pakistan Representative of Human Rights Watch. As a dancer or singer at celebrations you are welcome, but otherwise you are unlikely to be accepted. Although the Supreme court in the conservative Muslim country, like in 2009, a ruling that Transgender people are officially as a third gender is recognized, including a corresponding entry . “Besides, if you are granted a right of inheritance and the right to education and health care.” In practice, however, much of it had not arrived. On The Contrary. “More and more often it comes to violent Attacks on Trans-people, injured and even Dead.”

In Pakistan more than a Million Trans-estimated-people

The case of Alisha: A preventable death

Only a few weeks ago of the murder made in a country well-known Trans activist international headlines. Because of the circumstances, the extent of everyday discrimination in a tragic way. The 23-year-old Alisha was a member of the “Trans-Action-Alliance” (TAA), the first organized Transgender platform in the North-Western province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. They had denounced in the past, public the lives of Trans people in their country. At the end of may she was the victim of a plot.

It was in cold blood were shot, reported Qamar Nasim, human rights activist and active in the TAA. “Nine times the shooter fired on them. Alisha was then taken to one of the largest hospitals in the Region. But there she was denied, initially, any help from a professional.” The reason is that The staff did not agree which doctor is responsible for you, if you should be treated as a man or woman and on which Station, you’ll should be. About precious time was lost – the Alisha the life cost. In the end, she succumbed to her internal injuries. “While Alisha lay dying there, stood around people and made it fun,” adds Saroop Ijaz of HRW.” This shows how deep this ‘rot’ in Pakistan.”

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00:37

Alia, on the role of Transgender women in Pakistan

Qamar Nasim referred to the Transgender community as the most isolated and vulnerable groups in the South Asian country. A large group of. “A lack of official statistics. The Pakistani government believes that there are around half a Million. But we believe that there are actually more than twice as many.” And then the TAA-activist announced a shocking figure: “Between January 2015 and may 2016 46 Transgender were killed-people alone in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.” In addition, there had been in the same period, more than 300 assaults or rapes.

“Pottvieh, go back to India!”

Physically Alia itself was never attacked. But with prejudice, or discrimination in everyday life and she has to fight again and again. In Germany, too. “Once I was on an Internet Dating site. And someone has taken the time to write to me at length that I was very ugly and a disgrace to Gays here.” She likes men, but is not in a relationship currently. In Pakistan, she once had a relationship with a man, since she is Single.

Due to its eye-catching Exterior, you will be stared at often. Children show, for example, on the road to you and whisper, the hurt her. You don’t always have the strength to respond by a bit. “And once called me a Drunken man as ‘Pottvieh’, and told me that I should go back to India. I’ve said that I’m from Pakistan.” Alia laughs a bit as she says this. But it is not a happy Laugh. Other than that, what else comes ímmer again, if you told. You must just deal with it and try not to close to let it get to them”Because that is hate. Not mine.”

Since a couple of years ago, the third gender is recognized in Pakistan officially

She twitches resignedly the shoulders. Alia believes that you can only change very carefully and basically something to help people like you get a fixed place in society. Not only in Germany, but also in your home. “In elementary school, children should be familiar with the subject. You should know that there are also Transgender people. And that we are just as human as other men and women.”

A surprising message

This week, a message from Pakistan, with probably the fewest would have expected came: 50 Islamic clerics have marriages in a Fatwa with Trans people under certain conditions for lawfully declared. Accordingly, the Trans should be people with “visible” male or female body characteristics members of the opposite sex to marry. The legal opinion of the Mullahs is not legally binding.

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00:38

Alia about her fear, the mother of their Trans-to tell the identity

Nevertheless, activist Nasim welcomed it as a step in the right direction. “This is a window in a dark room. For the first Time it was opened, and we see the light, can breathe fresh air. We are convinced that this is a unique opportunity for the Transgender Community.”

Once Alia was still in Pakistan, since she lives in Cologne. It was the visit, in which you poured your family’s pure wine . “I tried to be a bit of a ‘miss’. But it was funny. My mom was in constant fear that somebody might shoot you. Or me one of our Relatives to see, as a woman, and it could incredibly find disgusting.” But still she returns happily to Germany. “I wouldn’t be able to live with it if my mom would have said: Go. That would have been my biggest nightmare.” Instead, the mother accepted her as what she is: her child. A Woman. And easily the most important person.