Lawyer: “Any negative action [against trans people] is a crime”

In an article published by Yeni Sabah, lawyer Emil Aslanov stated that there is no need for a separate law on trans rights, as existing legislation already guarantees equality for all citizens.

According to Aslanov, trans people are entitled to the same legal protections as anyone else, and any negative action taken against them must be considered a crime:

“Transgender people are human beings, persons. In accordance with everyone’s right to equality, any step taken against them, any negative action, is a crime. What is the need for a separate law? Our legislation does not define transgender people as a separate gender. But if a citizen changes their gender — for example, a woman undergoes surgery and becomes legally recognized as a man — then they have the right, through the courts, to change their identity documents.”

The lawyer emphasized that despite the legal framework, transphobia and violence remain common in society. Recently, in Baku’s Gunashli settlement, a group of young men was filmed throwing stones at and insulting a trans woman— a stark reminder of ongoing abuse.

In response to that event, Qıy Vaar, QueeRadar, Minority Azerbaijan, Transvisionary, Q Collective, and Femkulis issued a joint statement. The statement stressed that the incident represents a direct threat not only to one individual, but to the safety and lives of all LGBTQI+ citizens:

“These acts of violence are not accidental, but the result of deep-rooted transphobia, the state’s passive stance, and a culture of impunity.”

The signatories called for those responsible to be identified and prosecuted, for the investigation to be transparent, and for state institutions to publicly condemn violence against LGBTQI+ citizens.

The statement also urged the Azerbaijani government to include “sexual orientation” and “gender identity” as protected grounds in anti-discrimination legislation and to align national laws with international human rights standards.

“The state’s silence encourages hate crimes and fuels the scale of violence.”

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