They targeted women and distributed leaflets in Konya: Who is this National Forces Movement?

In Konya, a group identifying themselves as the "National Forces Movement" distributed controversial leaflets on the streets to women who do not wear headscarves. The leaflets claimed that women's clothing styles were contrary to social morality and religious values, and included statements demanding that they cover up.

According to Halk TV, the distributed leaflets characterized women wearing clothes such as shorts and crop tops as "shamelessness." The leaflets, which argued that women's clothing sexually triggers men, defended the position that dressing immodestly is "problematic" both religiously and socially.

The following statements in the leaflet drew attention:

"Walking around in front of everyone wearing pieces of cloth no different from panties called shorts, or pieces of fabric called crops that leave most of the upper waist exposed, etc., shows that this modesty has disappeared, and this situation is a complete disaster."

In response to the thought of women saying, "Am I not free, I can dress as I wish," the leaflet stated that while they are free according to the laws of the state, this is wrong according to the customs and religious values of the Turkish nation.

THEY COMPARED THEM TO AFRICAN TRIBES

In the distributed leaflets, women dressing immodestly were compared to the habits of "primitive tribes" in Africa. The leaflet stated:

"Walking among people in a way that exposes one's body is an event that can only be seen in rare, primitive tribes in Africa that have remained far from civilization and religions, but unfortunately, they are degenerating our nation under the guise of concepts like fashion and freedom."

'MEN ARE AFFECTED' JUSTIFICATION

Another section of the leaflet that drew attention was the statement that women dressing immodestly could sexually affect men:

"The male and female genders that make up society can, of course, be sexually affected by each other's appearance. Walking around in overly revealing clothes will increase this influence in a negative way."

THEY ANNOUNCED IT ON THEIR WEBSITE

It was determined that the group in question announced their activities not only on the street but also through a website they opened. It was observed that the group promoted their work with the slogan "Enjoining good and forbidding evil," and openly shared their impositions on many areas, from people's clothing to their speech, through their website.