Women take to the streets across the country: 'Femicides are political'

Women who took to the streets in Antakya walked through dark streets that remain unlit 21 months after the earthquake. The women chanted, "Women will light up this city."

Gathering in the Aşağıokçular neighborhood of the Defne district, women marched with slogans such as "jin jiyan azadi" (woman, life, freedom), "women are strong together," "mare haya hürriya" (women, life, freedom), and "women will light up this city," accompanied by applause and ululations as part of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women on November 25. Yaren Sakar, speaking on behalf of the women, stated that authoritarian leaders heading governments in Turkey and around the world continue their attacks on women's bodies, identities, and labor through their sexist, religious, and nationalist ideologies.

SAMSUN: FEMICIDES ARE POLITICAL

Hundreds of women gathered in the İlkadım district of Samsun. A press statement was made following the march organized by the Samsun Women's Solidarity. Şafak Aydın and Emel Çakır read the press statement on behalf of the Samsun Women's Solidarity.

Stating, "We are in rebellion because women are being murdered because the Istanbul Convention is not being implemented," Şafak Aydın made the following remarks:

"Today is November 25. We women are on the streets and in rebellion to take our defiance against the male-dominated capitalism that produces inequality, poverty, wars, and violence across the world to the squares, to meet with the power of women's solidarity that transcends borders, and to make our objection heard together. We are in rebellion because every day around the world, hundreds of women are subjected to physical or sexual violence and murdered by men close to them! We are in rebellion because women are being murdered because the Istanbul Convention is not being implemented! We are in rebellion because women are condemned to violence and murdered because no budget is allocated to open enough shelters and counseling centers. We are in rebellion because tens of thousands of women and hundreds of children are condemned to deprivation in prisons. 706 children are growing up in prisons with their mothers in violation of the law, while 498 children have parents who are incarcerated. In Turkey, our long-standing struggle has been intensified by the recent events involving Narin and baby Sıla, the death of 5 children who burned to death after their mother, who collects paper to feed them, had to leave them at home, and the brutal murders of Ayşenur Halil and İkbal Uzuner, which have increased women's anger and resistance. An organized voice has risen from all cities in Turkey, from school gates to university campuses, from neighborhoods to city squares: Femicides are not isolated incidents; they are political."

WOMEN IN ÇEŞME MARCHED AGAINST VIOLENCE AND ABUSE

Çeşme Mayor Lâl Denizli, who participated in the "Awareness March for the Prevention of Violence and Abuse Against Women," stated that the number of women murdered in 2024 reached 411, adding, "We will continue to cry out until the murder of women is prevented. We will continue to cry out until the Istanbul Convention is implemented. We will continue to stand by every woman and every child. You will not be able to intimidate us, you will not be able to make us give up. We will never give up on our struggle for women's rights."

WOMEN'S VOICES ROSE AGAINST VIOLENCE IN GAZIANTEP

Various non-governmental organizations, gathered under the umbrella of the Gaziantep Democratic Women's Platform, held a press statement as part of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women on November 25. The statement emphasized that attacks on women's rights are increasing both in Turkey and around the world, while the women's struggle continues to grow stronger in response.

The press statement held in Gaziantep drew attention to the pressure exerted by authoritarian regimes on women's bodies, citing examples ranging from Iran to India. The protests that grew in Iran following the death of Mahsa Amini and the mass demonstrations held in India after a female doctor was raped and murdered were cited as examples of the women's struggle.

DISCUSSION AND MARCH ORGANIZED IN HOPA

A discussion was organized in cooperation with the Hopa Municipality, the CHP Women's Branch, and the Artvin Bar Association. Women from Hopa gathered at the Hüsni Ciner Primary School and marched to Hopa Square.

Delivering the opening speech of the discussion held as part of the "November 25 International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women," CHP Hopa Women's Branch President Şeniz Aytaş said the following:

"We will not give up on engaging in politics or defending the rights of our labor. An equal, free, and democratic future will rise in the hands of us women. We will continue our struggle to equip every corner of life with love, peace, brotherhood, and a secure future. We will change the world together. We are the courage, we are the determination, we are the labor. We are women. We are one in every two people. The views expressed here today and the spirit of cooperation will once again show how important a role we all have in this life."

"FEMICIDES ARE POLITICAL"

Zeliha Yıldırım, in a press statement made on behalf of the women of Hopa, stated the following:

"64 years ago, on November 25, 1960, the Mirabal sisters—Patria, Minerva, and Maria—were raped and murdered by regime forces because they fought for freedom in their country, which was ruled by a fascist dictatorship. This struggle of women continues to inspire us. This story is a symbol of resisting and fighting against all forms of violence directed at women, as well as a symbol of the struggle for democracy and equality. Authoritarian leaders presiding over governments both in Turkey and around the world continue their attacks on women's bodies, identities, and labor with their sexist, religious, and nationalist ideologies. As the attacks by right-wing conservative governments on women's gains, carried out through women's bodies, increase, so too does the struggle of women."

WOMEN WERE ALSO ON THE STREETS IN ANKARA

In Ankara, women gathered at Kolej Square on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, November 25. The police did not allow the women, who wanted to march to Sakarya Street, and a scuffle ensued. The women chanted slogans demanding the police to "open the barricade."