The AKP government had signed the convention to give the impression that Turkey was complying with laws that protect women against honor killings, domestic violence, and other daily assaults. However, with elections approaching, religious sect leaders, the main voter pool for Erdoğan, asked him to rescind the agreement. Being in a vulnerable position as his votes erode, Erdoğan has granted them their wishes.
Women all over Turkey are protesting the government’s unilateral decision to pull out of the Istanbul Convention that protects women against all violence.
In Ankara, the nation’s capital, women are organizing a large gathering on the 27th of March.
After banning all women’s rallies and protests, Erdoğan, one night, suddenly signed a decree to abandon the convention that protects women from violence, domestic or otherwise.
An organization, Women’s Defense, wrote on walls around Ankara neighborhoods calling all women to participate and protest the move that targets women.
The AKP government had signed the convention to give the impression that Turkey was complying with laws that protect women against honor killings, domestic violence, and other daily assaults. However, with elections approaching, religious sect leaders, the main voter pool for Erdoğan, asked him to rescind the agreement. Being in a vulnerable position as his votes erode, Erdoğan has granted them their wishes.
This move is yet another indication that the country is on a fast path to radical Islam and is governed by zealots and religious bigots.
Attacks on women have increased 1,400% till the 2010s. When this did not look good, the Turkish government stopped collecting data and publishing statistics on assaults against women.
Following other cities where women are outraged and are protesting, the walls around Ankara neighborhoods now have the feminist messages: “Istanbul Convention makes women live, but the feminist uprising continues,” and “We are not giving up on our rights or our Istanbul Convention!”
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