A transgender woman was stabbed at an asylum seekers' center in the Netherlands

On March 1, 2026, at the Asylum Seekers’ Center (AZC) in Leiden (Netherlands), a 24-year-old transgender woman named Danial, who had arrived from Syria seeking asylum, was brutally attacked by one of her neighbors at the center. The attacker chased her for half an hour, knife in hand. The attack took place in the communal kitchen, where he stabbed her several times in the face and head. Danial tried to hide in the room of another resident of the center—an African woman with three small children— But the assailant continued to attack her, ultimately leaving her unconscious with a bloodied face.

During the attack, the assailant shouted insults: “You filthy faggot, you pig! You’re worthless! You’ll pay for this! You’re filthy and unclean!” This clearly indicates that the attack was motivated by transphobia. The witness screamed for help, but other people at the center and security personnel did not intervene. Only when Danial, bleeding profusely, managed to make her way to the front desk on her own, leaving a trail of blood behind her, did security finally call the police.

Danial was left in shock, with visible injuries—she has a large, crescent-shaped scratch on her face. She and her roommate now feel as if they are in constant danger, not knowing who might be waiting outside the door.

Background: Ignored Warnings

This was not a sudden incident. Two days earlier, on February 27, 2026, Danial had already reported the harassment by the same man to the Central Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers (COA) and security personnel. He groped her in the elevator, committing sexual assault. However, security responded indifferently, stating that confronting the attacker would only “intensify his aggression.” On the day of the attack, he asked Danial why she didn’t want to have sex with him (“Because I’m ugly?”) and immediately resorted to threats: “Then I’ll make sure you become ugly too.”

System Issues at AZC

The center in Leiden is located in a former office building and is intended for emergency shelter. It has a special room for LGBT+ asylum seekers, but that does not solve the problem. Members of the LGBT+ community regularly face discrimination: verbal abuse, spitting on the floor, and other forms of hostility from the majority of residents. The COA often downplays these complaints and does not take them seriously.

Sandro Kortekaas, chair of LGBT Asylum Support, an organization that supports LGBT+ refugees, emphasizes: “Reports of dangerous situations are often not taken seriously. The government is doing too little to ensure a safe haven.” He notes that a recent motion in parliament by the JA21 party prohibits special accommodations for LGBT+ individuals, proposing instead to arrest violators. But what can be done if homophobia comes from the majority of the population?

Reactions and Calls to Action

Following the incident, activists sent an official letter to the Dutch Minister of Asylum and Migration, demanding a meeting with the victims and representatives of the LGBT community.

The letter emphasizes the need to:

• the obligation to respond to complaints of violence and threats.
• an independent investigation into the security guards' actions,
• strengthening protective measures for LGBT+ asylum seekers,
• the creation of secure, separate rooms,

The Netherlands is traditionally considered one of the most progressive countries in Europe when it comes to LGBT+ rights. However, human rights advocates point out that LGBT refugees remain vulnerable in reception centers. People fleeing persecution in their home countries often face aggression from other asylum seekers who come from countries with high levels of homophobia and transphobia.

The incident in Leiden has once again raised the question: Is the government doing enough to protect the most vulnerable groups within the refugee reception system?