JK Rowling: "Why Are Transgender Police Officers Conducting Naked Searches of Women?"

Strong Criticism as an Act Ignoring Women's Human Rights

Joanne K. Rowling, the author of 'Harry Potter,' strongly criticized the decision by the British Transport Police (BTP) to allow transgender police officers to conduct strip searches on women, calling it an act that disregards women's rights. Rowling is well known in the West, where demands for transgender rights are prominent, for emphasizing the importance of biological sex and women's rights.

On the 26th, Yonhap News, citing the British daily The Telegraph, reported that Rowling condemned the BTP's decision in a social media post on "White Ribbon Day." She voiced opposition to violence against women and girls and urged people to report related incidents.

Joanne K. Rowling. Photo by Yonhap News

In particular, Rowling criticized the BTP for allowing biologically male transgender police officers who identify as women to conduct strip searches on women, while simultaneously running the White Ribbon Day campaign to protect the human rights of women worldwide who suffer from male violence.

Rowling is not alone. Kassy Lachman, a member of the Women’s Rights Network and former police chief, also condemned the new BTP guidelines as "state-sanctioned sexual violence."

The campaign group Sex Matters also raised its voice in criticism, arguing that the policy constitutes a human rights violation and discrimination against women. They stated that for some women, being searched by a male, regardless of whether the male is recognized as a woman, can be traumatic, and announced plans to take legal action against the BTP.

Earlier, in September, the BTP approved guidelines allowing officers to verify a person's gender using a birth certificate or a Gender Recognition Certificate (GRC), enabling biologically male individuals who identify as women and hold a GRC to conduct searches on women.

The National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC) of the UK had prepared similar guidelines to the BTP but withdrew them in January following protests.

Previously, Rowling publicly expressed opposition to transgender individuals who identify as women. She has been actively voicing her views on X daily and responding to criticism and attacks against her. She was even sued after referring to a transgender female broadcaster as male.