Women speak out from Kadıköy: "We are not silent, we are not afraid, we do not obey"

According to the report by Melisa Gülbaş from Gerçek Gündem; women's platforms, associations, and organizations held a demonstration in front of the Kadıköy Pier for International Working Women's Day on March 8. Women who gathered in front of the Süreyya Opera House at 3:00 PM today then marched to the Kadıköy Pier.

The women who gathered at the Kadıköy Pier chanted slogans such as "We are not silent, we are not afraid, we do not obey," "Jin jiyan azadi" (Woman, Life, Freedom), and "Long live women's solidarity." During the demonstration, the names of women who were murdered were commemorated.

In the press statement, the floor was given to the Saturday Mothers, the Sputnik strikers, university women, the Peace Mothers, and the Feminist Solidarity for the February 6 earthquakes. During the demonstration, the March 8 Women's Platform unfurled a banner that read, "We have a struggle against poverty, violence, exploitation, and war."

"WE WILL NOT LEAVE THE STREETS AGAINST MALE VIOLENCE"

Reading the press statement on behalf of the March 8 Women's Platform, Şenay Kumuz said, "Despite the 107 years that have passed since March 8 was declared, almost nothing has changed in living conditions, but women everywhere in the world are fighting to change this course. Today, those who try to determine the lives of millions of women continue to produce policies about us while disregarding our lives. Most of all, women are killed by their closest relatives within those families."

Stating that the Civil Code is also being tampered with, Kumuz said, "They are activating all their mechanisms to take away all our hard-won rights with their reactionary policies. They are eyeing our right to alimony. They continue to darken our lives with their anti-women policies. We will not leave the streets against those who attack our rights and against male violence," she said.

"WOMEN'S DAY IS AN OPPORTUNITY NOT JUST TO CELEBRATE, BUT TO MAKE OUR VOICES HEARD"

Sputnik striker Günce Nur İnce spoke about the Sputnik strike and their struggle. İnce said, "Our strike process taught us a lot. We realized that we were not in the field just for the demands of a journalist regarding our profession. We realized that we are part of all struggles born from inequality and injustice. At this point, being here today for us women, who are fighting the toughest battle, gives us strength and hope. Women's Day is an opportunity not just to celebrate, but to make our voices heard, because every time we make our voices heard, the world will come one step closer to changing. On the 200th day of our strike, we thank you on behalf of all Sputnik strikers for your support," she said.

"THEY WANT TO SILENCE US WITH PRESSURE AND VIOLENCE, WE WILL NOT BE SILENCED"

Speaking at the rally, Saturday Mother Besna Tosun read out the names of women who lost their lives in custody. Tosun said, "While women's rights and violence against women are being discussed everywhere in the world before March 8, we also wanted to remind everyone of the women who were disappeared in custody. We all have the right to know what happened to the disappeared women. Regardless of the year, it is the responsibility of all governments to explain the fate of the disappeared and punish the perpetrators. They want to silence us with pressure and violence. We will not be silenced. Whatever the cost, we will not give up," she said.

News Source: 12punto