Trans Woman Scarred For Life By Iraqi Dad Who Attacked Her With Kitchen Knife

This transgender woman has been scarred for life by her Iraqi father, who attacked her with a kitchen knife over her sexual orientation.

The dad, who has not been named due to strict local privacy laws, was sentenced to 11 years in prison for attempted murder in December 2020, and now the Higher Court in the Swiss city of Bern is hearing his appeal.

A verdict is expected on Thursday 23rd December in a case that has shaken the country and left lasting scars on the victim, as can be seen in these photographs.

The injuries of Cataleya, 19, who was was attacked by her father in May 2019, in Bern, Switzerland. (Newsflash)

The victim, who has been named in local media reports only as Cataleya, was 19 at the time of the incident in May 2019 and had not yet transitioned from being a man to being a woman.

During the appeal, when the judge asked Cataleya how she felt about her father, she reportedly said, after a long pause: “I don’t understand how you can do this to your child.”

Cataleya was admitted to hospital on the morning of 29th May 2019 with deep lacerations to her neck.

The injuries of Cataleya, 19, who was was attacked by her father in May 2019, in Bern, Switzerland. (Newsflash)

She told the regional court in the Swiss city of Burgdorf, in the Bern canton, during the original trial that her father had attacked her with a kitchen knife.

She said: “I held my neck to stop the bleeding and ran away.”

The young woman is currently unemployed and is receiving psychological care. She said: “Sometimes I’m fine, other times I’m very bad.”

The injuries of Cataleya, 19, who was was attacked by her father in May 2019, in Bern, Switzerland. (Newsflash)

She said the scars on her neck will remind her of “this deed for the rest of my life”. Cataleya currently has no contact with her family, including with her mother and her siblings.

She is currently looking for work and is hoping to soon complete her transition and undergo gender reassignment.

Cataleya’s father, who is originally from Iraq, was originally sentenced to 11 years in prison for attempted murder and the verdict on the appeal is expected on Thursday.