Nazlican Nujin Yildiz 

 

IZMIR - Women are preparing to take to the squares in the run-up to 25 November to organise against increasing male violence and misogynist policies. Women's organisations coming together in Izmir emphasised that massacres of women are political and called for a strong solidarity on 25 November.

 

On the way to 25 November, women continue their preparations by growing the struggle against increasing male violence, massacres of women and misogynist policies.

 

Women from women's organisations in Izmir emphasised that the cause of the recent increase in male violence is the misogynist policies of the government and the solution is the organised women's struggle. The women called on everyone to take to the streets on 25 November.

 

Sinem Celebi, a member of the FSA: Attacks increased 

 

Sinem Celebi, a member of Free Young Women (ÖGK), drew attention to the increasing attacks on women all over the world. Sinem said, “For example, we have all heard the news that women and girls in South Korea are subjected to digital violence. Women's bodies are edited into pornographic content with artificial intelligence. 

 

It is possible to say that digital violence has become widespread in all areas of the world. In Afghanistan, the Taliban banned women from speaking on the street. On the other hand, it is possible to say that in Palestine, the occupying Israeli state has particularly targeted women and children in the war and massacred them first. 

 

It is possible to say that Palestinian women leaders are tortured in prisons and subjected to sexual violence. On the other hand, in Turkey and Kurdistan, femicides and male violence are on the rise. We have seen this most recently in the horrific murder of Ayşenur and Iqbal.”

 

‘Masculinity and male violence are legitimised’

 

Stating that 34 women were murdered and 20 women died suspiciously in September alone, Sinem said that these data and the massacres of women are not isolated and that the increasing massacres of women are caused by impunity policies. Sinem said, "Impunity policies pave the way for femicides. The male-dominated judiciary also has a very big share here. It legitimises the murders of women. 

 

All the decisions it takes and the sexist discourses of state bureaucrats in every field, regardless of where they are located, the sexist swearing that we hear on the street and cannot be prevented, all of these encourage men. Masculinity and male violence are legitimised. It is necessary to say that all of these are misogynist policies as a whole."

 

‘Attempts to divide the women's movement’

 

Referring to the recent attacks on the slogan ‘Jin, jiyan, azadî’, Sinem emphasised that racist and chauvinist policies are being used to try to divide the women's movement. 

 

Sinem added that it is not possible to try to divide the women's struggle with these attacks. Sinem added, "We will continue to be against this and continue to make the slogan ‘Jin, jiyan, azadî’ heard everywhere. We will continue to defend the gains of the Kurdish women's movement against racist and chauvinist policies. As Free Young Women, we will continue our struggle to respond to the rising rebellion of women against male violence. We continue to prepare for 25 November with this consciousness and energy."

 

On 25 November, Sinem shared that a march will be held with the call of Izmir Women's Platform and made the following statements by calling on women: "On 25 November at 19.00, we will gather in front of Alsancak Station as the Izmir Women's Platform. We will also be there as ÖGK. At 19.30 we will march in front of Turkan Saylan. I call on all women to be on the streets on 25 November."