ISTANBUL — 2016 · Murder

Murder of Hande Kader

Under InvestigationSources: ALast updated: 14 October 2026

Hande Kader, a trans woman and LGBTI+ rights activist, was last seen in Harbiye, Istanbul, in early August 2016. Shortly after her disappearance her body was found near Zekeriyaköy in Sarıyer; she was identified after friends came forward. Kader had become known through photographs taken during the police intervention at the 2015 Istanbul Pride March. Her death drew wide reaction in Turkey and abroad, and violence against trans people was highlighted by protests. The investigation remained inconclusive for a long time; in December 2018 a suspect was arrested and a confidentiality order was placed on the file. No final conviction has been publicly reported.

Date: 2016
Place: Sarıyer (Zekeriyaköy), Istanbul
Category: Murder
Case Status: Under Investigation
Coordinates: 41.1970, 29.0300 ↗

Timeline of Events

August 2016Hande Kader was last seen in Harbiye.
August 2016Her body was found near Zekeriyaköy in Sarıyer.

21 August 2016Her death was condemned in protest marches in Istanbul.
December 2018A suspect was arrested; a confidentiality order was placed on the file.

Sources

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