March 8 message from Erdoğan

President and AKP Chairman Recep Tayyip Erdoğan attended the 'Women Strengthening with Turkey, Giving Strength to Turkey' program. 

Highlights from Erdoğan's remarks are as follows:

"I congratulate the women of Turkey and the entire world on March 8, International Women's Day. From here, I wholeheartedly salute all the working women, oppressed women, and victimized women of the world. I commemorate all the heroic women of our country with mercy. I pray to the Almighty for patience for the parents, tearful spouses, and orphans of our martyrs, each of whom is a monument of fortitude. On the occasion of March 8, I express my gratitude to our mothers who spend their lives raising virtuous children for the homeland, the nation, the Ummah, and all of humanity. I also sincerely congratulate my wife and my dear daughters on March 8 International Women's Day. 

"NOT JUST MARCH 8..."

We have an election ahead of us. In 22 days, we will go to the polls and, God willing, determine our local administrators. We see that female candidates are showing great interest in the elections at every level. I am a brother of yours who has always supported the 'woman's touch' in politics and has walked the path with women throughout his political life. Not just March 8, but the remaining 364 days of the year are essentially women's days, and that is how it should be. The contributions of women to our state, our nation, and humanity, beyond our personal lives, are too great, important, and valuable to be confined to just one day a year. By using March 8 as a vehicle, we review our state's policies regarding women and try to resolve any problems we identify. We have never confined ourselves to slogans until today. 

In our meetings with women, we have announced new projects and programs ranging from the prevention of violence to the empowerment of women, and from employment to rights and freedoms. We have done and will continue to do whatever is necessary for women to play a more active role in every field and to benefit fairly from rights, opportunities, and possibilities. We have strengthened the economic and social status of women with support mechanisms and innovative practices. Our strategy document covering 2024-2028 rises on 5 main pillars. I congratulate those who contributed to the preparation of the document, which consists of 5 basic goals and 20 strategies, in the person of our Minister of Family. 

"THE MOST IMPORTANT CONDITION FOR A STRONG FAMILY IS A STRONG WOMAN"

We have completed the first century of our Republic and set sail for its second century with the vision of the 'Century of Turkey.' We are striving to build a more peaceful and brighter future in every respect. We are carrying out the preparations for the Century of Turkey on the axis of strong women, strong families, and a strong Turkey. Our goal is to strengthen women, the family, and our country. In our belief, the family is the fundamental pillar of society. The institution of the family, which began with Prophet Adam and Prophet Eve, has enabled the preservation of values that make a human being human throughout history. The family has kept individuals standing and protected society against degeneration. The stronger the family, the stronger the individuals and society have been. In periods when the family weakened or the institution of the family was damaged, all individuals—regardless of whether they were women, men, or children—have also fared poorly. A strong family is the guarantee not only of our survival as a nation and state but also of our future. The most important condition for a strong family is a strong woman. As such, we reject any approach that separates the family from the woman or builds walls between women and the family. 

"IF YOU ASK THEM, THEY SAY THEY DEFEND WOMEN'S RIGHTS"

There is a segment in our country that is allergic to the concept of family. We are talking about such a distorted perspective that they are even uncomfortable with the concept of 'family' in our ministry's name. These are the same people who marginalize everyone who does not fit their own mold. If you ask them, they say they defend women's rights. They openly support the usurpation of women's rights during the February 28-style tutelage periods. They do not utter a single sentence against policies of degendering. They do not even make a peep when housewives are belittled. 

REACTION TO THE WEST REGARDING GAZA

I ask you, have you ever heard those who stir up the world in the name of women's rights raise their voices for the more than 32,000 innocent people, mostly women and children, who have been massacred in Palestine since October 7? Have you seen them take action against Israel's genocide policies? Have you heard any statement from the Council of the EU, which criticized Turkey in its latest report, other than secret or open support for Israel to this day? Is it possible for those who do not speak out against the genocide of the Palestinian people to be consistent, effective, and impartial? Of course not. 

"WE HAVE NEVER INTERFERED WITH ANYONE'S LIFESTYLE" 

How can we deny the labor and effort of our country's women in the success story we have written over the last 21 years? If there is success in every field from economy to education, from security to agriculture, from democracy to rights and freedoms, women have contributed and labored in it at least as much as men. We have always overcome the obstacles placed before us with the support of you women. We have joined hearts. We have made positive discrimination regarding women, especially freedom for the headscarf, a constitutional rule. In our political life, we have never interfered with anyone's lifestyle. Not a single example can be shown to the contrary of this stance. Today, we observe that the same circles are trying to scare women again with expired rhetoric. They think they can convince women to vote for them by saying, "You won't be able to breathe, this person will come." They resorted to the same fear-mongering politics before May 14-28, but they were defeated in the face of the wisdom of women. 

News Source: 12punto