Eyes Femicide Shut
Issue #229
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In other survey news, a study for the ruling Justice and Development Party found citizens are most concerned by a lack of justice and development in Turkey.
In this week’s recap:
Double femicide sparks protests
Political ‘softening’ signals continue
Fourth app blocked in three months
Israeli threat to Turkey on the agenda
Domestic and diplomatic wraps
Bolu immortalizes UEFA grey wolf salute
Also from us this week:
Nimet Kıraç on the use of child labor in Turkey’s agriculture sector.
Gonca Tokyol’s interview with Reha Ruhavioğlu on the state of Kurdish politics. (Turkish only)
‘Justice for ____. I left this empty because I could be the next’
‘Write me when you get home safely’
These were some of the messages on signs from femicide protests held all over Turkey following the double murder of İkbal Uzuner and Ayşenur Halil in İstanbul Friday.
Nineteen-year-old suspect Semih Çelik reportedly killed Halil and, half an hour later, murdered Uzuner, throwing the latter’s severed head down from İstanbul’s city walls. He then committed suicide by jumping off the wall.
BBC Türkçe reported the details, writing that both Uzuner and Halil (both 19 years old) at different times had a relation with Çelik. Statements of family members indicate Çelik had a drug addiction, psychological issues and raised questions of whether red flags were missed.
Women’s rights activists have since called out impunity towards violence against women, political ignorance and shortcomings in gender equality.
The news comes as a 2-year-old baby died after being sexually abused, family members are suspected to have killed 8-year-old Narin Güran, a female student went missing in Van, and two men caught on camera abusing a woman in İstanbul were released after being taken in custody. Both had criminal records of sexual abuse, the victim did not press charges.
Meanwhile, Pres. Erdoğan announced the AKP is preparing additional legal regulations related to crimes against women and children. He also said withdrawing from the İstanbul Convention “did not have the slightest negative impact on women's rights.”
Yet human rights organizations as well as the CHP stressed the importance of the agreement Turkey left in 2021, arguing it helps both to prevent and combat violence against women.
The Ministry of Family and Social Services says they never compromised their stance against violence against women, but many are critical about government policies and priorities of the state.
“The duty of the ministry is to follow up on effective implementation of the law, not to strengthen masculinity or to glorify the family. The result of such policies is that men now think they can do anything to women,” Fidan Ataselim of the We Will Stop Femicide Platform told BBC Türkçe.
DW also points to the education system, socioeconomic conditions and online groups where violence against women is celebrated.
Political scientist Emre Erdoğan frames the patriarchal culture within society and families more directly. “Women are second-class citizens, men are first-class citizens. Whatever the son does is seen as acceptable," he told DW.
Esra Özgür attended one of the protests in İstanbul on Monday.
“I was disappointed again by public officials who tried to get around the problem with various “buts” or by the media that remained silent,” she told Turkey recap.
“I left home alone to go to the protest on 5 October. Encountering familiar faces on the road and at the protest, and seeing my fear and anger shared with people I had never met, reminded me that despite everything, I was not alone. I am very sad and angry, but also hopeful,” Özgür said.
– Ingrid Woudwijk
Edward Seizerhands: Political ‘softening’ signals continue
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