Effective measures should be developed to prevent murders, harassment, rapes, violence against women, and gender inequality should be stopped at all levels of the state. Impunity policies such as unfair provocation and reductions in punishment due to good behavior for murderers of women should be abandoned. The Istanbul convention should be re-signed and implemented effectively.
Women and LGBTI+ people filled the streets with feminist riots for March 8. Across Turkey, women are challenging the male sovereignty for their rights.
Ankara
Women met at Anıtpark for the March 8 International Women’s Day rally of the Ankara Women’s Platform. The Ukraine-Russia war, which continued on its eleventh day today, was not forgotten at the rally, where women’s poverty, economic crisis, and escalating male violence formed the backbone.
Istanbul
Women and LGBTI people in Istanbul gathered today (March 6) at the “Great Women’s Meeting” in Kadıköy as part of the International Women’s Day program on March 8.
Antalya
In Antalya, women and the LGBTI+ community first gathered in a park and, after the rally, marched to Republic Square. The Egitim-Sen Education Union’s women’s choir gave a concert, and the rally ended after communal folk dancing.
The statement said:
We once again warn the AKP government that the suspicious deaths of women are covered up by suicide. Child abusers and suspicious child deaths, crimes against nature, and animals go unpunished. We defend the right to life for all living things and shout our demand for justice.
In all areas of life, we continue to resist discrimination, sexism, poverty, male and state violence and develop our organized struggle.
The Purple Oleander awards for sexist, homophobic, and transphobic recipients found their winners this year:
This year, we gave it to sexist, homophobic, transphobic men who deserved the purple oleander award in many disciplines. You can find the top 20 awards on our social media accounts. The last three are very valuable to us because this trio is also the people and institutions that empower other men in their position and legitimize violence.
1) President of Religious Affairs: One candidate to be the winner of each year is Ali Erbas, head of religious affairs. And this year’s award is, “Homosexuality brings disease. It’s debunking the generation.”
2) Interior Minister: Suleyman Soylu, who made LGBTI+ people look heretical through the Bosphorus University resistance, did not surprise us again, and you were the winner of this category.
Female Enemy of every year
This individual is famous for his decision to secretly abandon the Istanbul Convention in the middle of the night. This Convention was vital for women LGBTI+ and children. Every time this individual picked up the microphone, he became famous for repeatedly producing violence and hatred. We all know him, but we’re not going to say his name because we can’t get along, and we’re not going to pay the bill of the Palace.
All Purple Oleander winners will get what they deserve as soon as possible with our best wishes, and they will be lost in the darkness of history, and we know that we will make this wish a reality only with our struggle. Long live our organized struggle.
Mersin
A women’s banquet was held in Ozgecan Aslan Square with the call that “we are in revolt against violence, war and poverty” in Mersin. Yeliz Güzel and Motley Women Physicians Rhythm Group performed. In a press release in Turkish and Kurdish, the women demanded:
• Effective measures should be developed to prevent murders, harassment, rapes, violence against women, and gender inequality should be stopped at all levels of the state. Impunity policies such as unfair provocation and reductions in punishment due to good behavior for murderers of women should be abandoned. The Istanbul convention should be re-signed and implemented effectively.
• Any legislation concerning women should be structured to ensure gender equality and facilitate women’s political, social, and economic rights by taking women’s views.
• Elderly care homes, child care facilities, and patient care centers should be opened without labor exploitation.
• Women should be provided with full-time, secure, equal pay employment.
• Gender equality courses should be taught at all levels from primary school to university.
• Women will defend peace against war! Refugee women should be provided with fundamental rights such as housing, education, and health.
• Women’s self-defense by defending their lives against male violence should not be judged or punished. Women who are in courts for self-defense should be acquitted.
• We do not accept nude searches, harassment, physical and psychological violence against women and transgender people in prisons. We demand freedom for sick prisoners.
Sendika.org News (MB)