According to the “Eight-Month Report on Femicides” published by the Federation of Turkish Women’s Associations, at least 280 women were murdered by men between January 1 and August 31, 2024 in the country. In addition, the deaths of another 50 women were recorded as “suspicious.” A total of 153 of the women were killed with a firearm and 60 with a cutting tool.
Bahar Peker, an activist from Tevgera Jinên Azad (TJA), has spoken with ANF on this matter.
“Recently, femicides have reached an all-time high. These murders are an indication that they are part of special war policies,” she said. “There has been a domination over women from the past to the present.”
Bahar noted that “we see that one of the main objectives of the increase in femicides in recent years is the abolition of Law No. 6284. The abolition of this law had a negative impact on women. As women of Kurdistan, we said again and again that this law should not be abolished. We shouted in the streets that the murders of women and children would increase after the withdrawal from the Istanbul Convention.”
Bahar drew attention to the fact that 31 women and five children were murdered in August. “If you look closely, a woman is murdered almost every day,” she said. “A few days ago, a woman was stabbed to death by her husband inside a pharmacy. The basis for these femicides is the policy of impunity. The male mentality that exercises violence against women and kills women unfortunately paves the way for these massacres without receiving any punishment due to the policy of impunity and the application of discounts for good behavior. Women have no security of life.”
“Women can no longer even go out safely,” she explained. “Women do not even have security within their own families. If we look at this, we see that there is no space for women to breathe.”
Referring to the murder of young Narin Güran in Amed (capital of Bakur, Turkish Kurdistan), Bahar said: “Narin’s murder was followed not only in Kurdistan, but all over the world. In fact, this killing shows us that it is the product of a special war policy. When we were on the streets protesting the withdrawal from the Istanbul Convention, we said that these murders would happen. The fact that the body of a girl could not be found for 19 days is a serious problem. Narin’s family also played a role in this murder.”
“When we see the incident of the Sıla baby, it is a truly chilling situation,” she said. “We are at a point where it is difficult for our conscience to even talk about it. The abuse and murder of a two-year-old girl by her stepfather has already crossed the boundaries of tolerance for us women. Frankly, these policies of impunity and reductions in good conduct are causing many massacres.”
On the other hand, Bahar asserted that a corrupt culture is being built in Kurdistan under the name of conservatism. “This is very clear. We see the reflection of this in the sexual abuse of children in Quran courses,” she explained. “Now, all women must develop their self-defense against the male mentality. At this point, as a Kurdish women’s movement, we will do everything possible to combat violence and massacres against women.”
“We women must oppose this mentality and broaden our struggle for freedom,” she concluded. “At the same time, we will continue to do everything possible to build a moral and political society.”
