One protest that stood out was in Konya, where members of the human rights group Şefkat-Der wrapped themselves in coffin shrouds as a symbolic representation of the types of violence women are subject to in Turkey. The group’s president, Hayrettin Bulan, said violence against women was wider, and a more pressing problem, than terrorism.He stated that the number of female murder victims has been rising rapidly in the seven years, placing Turkey on top in this ranking in Europe. He said most of the women killed were women who were trying to leave abusive husbands or boyfriends in cases where the state failed to guarantee their safety. The group demanded tougher sentences for violence against women.
Deputies, party leaders and women’s rights organizations also released statements yesterday. Speaking at an event in Adana, the Adana Bar Association’s women’s rights commission head Kezbannur Özşahin Aksu said 25 percent of women in Turkey were victims of violence and 75 percent of those individuals were subject to violence from their spouses. She also said that one out of every four females under the age of 18 were victims of sexual violence.
Being against all forms of discrimination against women and ensuring equality for both sexes is the primary condition for being a democrat, Democratic Society Party (DTP) leader Ahmet Türk wrote in his message to mark the day.
