Turkish trans actor’s mother denies death threat rumours and says family supports him

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The family of a Turkish trans man actor, who recently came out in an interview have denied rumours that he received death threats, and said they fully support his decision for gender reassignment.

RĆ¼zgarĀ ErkoƧlar, 26 and formerly known as Nil, is a relatively well-known actor in Turkey, and reflected in interviews on that he never identified as a woman.

MrĀ ErkoƧlar said that from the age of six he never felt that he could identify with his body. He said:Ā ā€œI was not like other girls. I didnā€™t play with Barbie dolls, but hung out with boys.ā€ He went on to say that he was a boy ā€œonly physically,” reports Hurriyet.

His mother, Sema ErkoƧlar, said that his family supports every decision he makes, and those close to the family feel the same.

His mother said:Ā ā€œRĆ¼zgar did not do anything bad. We have always supported him. However, some of the news has damaged us a lot. RĆ¼zgar never received death threats. But some people are making that up.ā€

She went on to say that she hoped the family would be able to find peace, and argued that he would not want to undergo gender reassignment surgery unless he truly identified as a woman.Ā ā€œNo one wants to live though the pain,ā€ she said.

“I support freeness in relations. I support my children. I always told them that they can tell us everything. The most important thing is for them not to lie to us. RĆ¼zgar always told me everything,” she continued.

Reagarding the documentary about RĆ¼zgar, titled My Child, Mr ErkoƧlarā€™s mother said, ā€œI watched it while crying a lot. These are the things that we have gone though. In the past, we entered shops to buy male clothes to say we are buying them for RĆ¼zgarā€™s father. This is something coming from childhood, this is natal,ā€ she said.

ā€œCurrently, all the news is being reflected in newspapers because RĆ¼zgar is an actor. I have changed his name on my telephone and am not calling him Nil anymore.ā€

Sema said that she did question whether or not gender reassignment was sinful, as she is relgious. She said: ā€œI am a believer; I do practice religion also and I know this is natal.ā€