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Update Below:
Hi,
My name is Emil S. Jämsén, and I have started this fundraiser for Bella D. Aksoy.
So who is Bella?
To me, she is first and foremost my soulmate and my wife. We have been married for six years, and she has lived in Sweden for nine. I have shared my life with Bella for six years, and I do not regret a single day. When I struggled to find direction in my life, her strength and honesty changed me. She helped me become a better person. To the outside world, she may be labeled as transgender. To me, she is simply my wife. Period.
My beloved wife is now facing deportation from Sweden, the country she has called home for nearly a decade. She has also lost her right to work and has no savings to support herself during this time.
Update:
A few days ago, on Friday, May 29, Bella was detained by the Swedish police outside our home. She is now being held at a detention center run by the Swedish Migration Agency north of Stockholm.
We are doing everything we can to help her stay. Her case has received a lot of attention, and we hope to raise even more awareness. If you cannot contribute financially, we would be incredibly grateful if you signed her petition, linked below.
This is where the money goes:
If Bella is deported, these funds will keep her safe during the time she needs to remain in hiding. If we manage to help her stay, the money will go toward legal fees, access to therapy, and her living costs in Sweden while she is unable to work during the process.
Bella cannot safely return to Turkey. We fear that the moment she sets foot in the country, she could be detained by Turkish authorities because of her involvement in Istanbul Pride 2016 and her activism against Erdoğan's authoritarian regime.
During her years in Sweden, Bella has worked across many different roles, organizing events, DJing, working in restaurants, and creating art exhibitions. She is a creative, hardworking person who has always contributed positively to her community.
Any support means the world to us.
Thank you for reading our story, and thank you to everyone who has supported Bella so far, whether through donations, by signing the petition or both.
Here is further reading about Bellas situation.
Homepage
Savebella.org