Ela Nikbayan

Ela Nikbayan was an Iranian trans woman who, after immigrating to Germany, faced numerous challenges in accepting her gender identity. She committed suicide by self-immolation on 14 September 2021.

Biography Ela Nikbayan was born into a religious and traditional family in Southern Iran and faced suppression of her gender identity during her childhood and adolescence. Due to the lack of access to correct information about gender identities and sexual orientations, she suppressed her identity within herself. After immigrating to Germany in 2015, she initially thought she was gay, but gradually realized she was a trans woman. German police announced they would investigate. The German organization "LSVD" expressed anger at the continued violence against Nikbayan even after her death and called for legal action on the matter.