October 29 message from the Progressive Women's Association: 'Down with tyranny, long live the Republic'

The statement issued by the association included the following:

In the statement titled “We will not give up on secularism. Long live the Republic on its 100th anniversary,” it was stated that “The political power, which aims to eliminate the gains of the Republic—a deep-rooted revolution and a great leap forward for women's struggle for equality—is trying to establish a regime where women's inequality is considered a matter of nature, and poverty and exploitation are seen as a matter of destiny.” Reminding that the Civil Code is being targeted, the statement added, “The political power now wants to register the regime it is trying to establish with a ‘new constitution.’ This attempt means the destruction of the Republic with all its institutions, values, and principles.”

The statement is as follows:

On the 100th anniversary of the Republic, which was founded by ending the sultanate and the caliphate through the victory of the struggle against imperialist occupation, many gains, especially secularism, independence, and citizenship, have been liquidated by the capitalist class and the political power.

The political power, which aims to eliminate the gains of the Republic—a deep-rooted revolution and a great leap forward for women's struggle for equality—is trying to establish a regime where women's inequality is considered a matter of nature, and poverty and exploitation are seen as a matter of destiny.

On the other hand, the Civil Code, which is the symbol of secular law and the foundation of women's legal and social equality, is being targeted by reactionary elements, and it is being suggested that women should be treated as property. Those who compete with the political power and bigoted elements in reactionism can describe the law on the closure of dervish lodges and shrines as “obsolete” and can label the anti-Republican, collaborative bigots in history as national heroes.

Drawing strength from the most reactionary, collaborative, and right-wing composition of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM) in the history of the Republic, the political power now wants to register the regime it is trying to establish with a “new constitution.” This attempt means the destruction of the Republic with all its institutions, values, and principles.

Those who try to replace the citizen with a subject and the public with a populace can express that they see the Republic as an incidental situation by saying “the hundred-year advertising break is ending,” and can cancel Republic celebrations on its 100th anniversary.

Those who abandon the country's resources to the profit greed of capital, those who are partners in the war and occupation policies of imperialism, and those who have brought sects, communities, mafia gangs, and tribes to power by effectively liquidating secularism are preparing to drive the final nail into the coffin of the Republic on its centenary.

However, let them not forget that the will and progressive accumulation that rose up 100 years ago against occupation, the sultanate, and reactionism continue to fight against this darkness.

The Progressive Women's Association calls on all women to support the struggle for a secular Republic that will rise on the shoulders of the laborers for an equal and free country.

We will not give up on secularism!

Down with tyranny, long live the Republic!