ArticleRights groups say transsexuals face increasing violence and this reflects a wider trend in Turkish society -- the growing influence of Islam in daily life since the centre-right AK Party, which has Islamist roots, came to power in 2002.
"Now the police raid their bars and take these people into detention more frequently," said Huseyin Ayyildiz, branch secretary of the Human Rights Association in Istanbul.
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The intolerance is not restricted to transsexuals or homosexuals, the rights groups say.
"Businesses are having difficulty getting licences to sell alcohol," Ayyildiz said. Islam prohibits alcoholic beverages.
In the capital Ankara, Deniz, a transvestite who works as a prostitute, complained that many clients were ignoring her calls.
"Most of my clients are pious Muslim men and they are very afraid that the police will publicise their names," said Deniz, who also declined to give her full name.
