What does it take to be oneself? Shiraz’s Odyssey to Türkiye

Shiraz is an ambitious 23-year-old from the historic city of Alexandria, Egypt. She lives and studies programming in Izmir, Türkiye, with a dream of becoming a heart surgeon. She enjoys belly dancing, with her TikTok videos racking up thousands of views and likes. 

At first glance, one would not notice the tumultuous journey this young transgender woman has faced in order to carve out her space in the world. The perceptive observer would notice scars on her hands, though, which silently reveal her story. 

“I first identified as a girl when I was a child. I yearned to go to school for girls.” 

Shiraz's early-age revelation marked a shift in her life. Her conservative family, unable to comprehend her identity, responded with violence. Later, in Shiraz’s teenage years, they subjected her to painful electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) and convinced her that her identity was a mental disorder. 

“After a couple of sessions, I couldn’t take it anymore and attempted to commit suicide. I jumped from the third floor. I was rescued by people who gathered downstairs.” 

Enduring unimaginable torment, Shiraz failed to receive the necessary support. The difference between her real appearance and the one on her official identity documents made it challenging. 

Undeterred, she used an available opportunity to change her gender legally but failed to complete the process. 

For a while, Shiraz found sanctuary in her grandmother's home – her only supporter – until she herself faced threats of violence. Shiraz was left stranded on the streets. It was then that she learned of an NGO helping people like her. Now having the chance to reflect on her future, she considered the possibility of migrating. This marked the beginning of her journey to Türkiye. 

She first moved to Istanbul, then to Mersin in the south. Life was also not easy at the beginning, facing similar challenges seeking support and protection. 

“I was depressed. I never imagined returning to education.” 

Shiraz was referred by a local organization to the Mersin Migrant Municipal and Community Centre, run by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in coordination with the Mersin Metropolitan Municipality, that provides comprehensive assistance to those in need – from psychosocial support to legal counselling and facilitation of essential paperwork. 

“It was IOM that breathed life back into my dreams,” shares Shiraz. 

Over the past two years, the Centre has become a beacon of hope for Shiraz. She received much-needed psychosocial support and help with accommodation. The Centre further provided her translation support to obtain identity documents and helped her enroll in a university in Izmir. 

“I now study at the Programming Faculty, but I want to switch to medicine. I need to improve my Turkish for that,” she explains. “I want to become a heart surgeon, as it our hearts that often hurt. I want to help people.” 

Now in the pipeline for resettlement to a third country, Shiraz anticipates a new chapter in another country and is set to realize her dreams, "like every girl should." Proficient in Arabic, German, English, French, and Spanish, she is confident in her ability to settle in her permanent home soon. 

The Municipal Migrant and Community Centre in Mersin, a part of IOM’s Protection and Resilience programming, is run in cooperation with the Mersin Metropolitan Municipality. It is one of six centres operating nationwide, which aims to provide needed assistance to migrants and refugees and build cohesion between communities. Support through the centres is made possible by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration.