WAN - Over the past two years, 28 women have died under suspicious circumstances in Wan (Van). Felek Babur of the Free Women’s Movement (Tevgere Jinên Azad-TJA), stating that these suspicious deaths stem from a policy of impunity, said, “Behind every suspicious death lies the family and men.”
Violence, harassment, rape and massacres against women in Turkey and Kurdistan are increasing day by day. At least 28 women have died under suspicious circumstances in Wan in the last two years. The district of Qelqelî (Özalp) has seen the highest number of suspicious deaths of women in the city.
The majority of cases resulting in the deaths of women were recorded as “suicide” or “accident”. What is striking is that the suspicious deaths occurred in a similar manner and the investigations were similarly closed. The failure to identify the perpetrators in suspicious deaths occurring at home, in rural areas or in city centres confirms the argument frequently voiced by women's organisations that “effective investigations are not being conducted”.
TJA activist Felek Babur said the reason for the murders of women is the policy of impunity. She emphasised that women driven to suicide are greatly affected by economic crisis, poverty, psychological pressure, and special war policies.
Felek Babur said that there has been an increase in suspicious deaths of women across the city, noting that the rate of suspicious deaths of women was around 5 per cent in 2015-2016, but has risen to 40 per cent this year.
She stated that women and young people are threatened with their photos and messages on social media. Felek Babur said that women are forced to remain silent because of the fear they feel towards their families, adding: "We live in a feudal society. Women know that they will be harmed in some way by their husbands, fathers, brothers, or relatives. Because women are viewed through the lens of ‘honour’, these things are inevitable. But we do not accept this; we are not anyone's property or honour. Men try to empower themselves through women. Situations can even arise where a woman is killed by her own child. A mother never wants her child to be a murderer; she may even end her own life for the sake of her child. That is why behind every suspicious death there is a family and a man.”
Stating that TJA deals directly with women's issues in the city, Felek Babur said that the transformation will be carried out by women and that a democratic society will also be built together.
Noting that the economic crisis is also a factor in women's deaths, Felek Babur said that there is a major unemployment problem in Wan and that very young people are being exploited, while women are being driven into prostitution and drug addiction under the guise of work.
Felek Babur said that women who want to work to combat the economic crisis are confronted with the concept of family, adding that women are forced to remain silent due to pressure, but that families have begun to support their children working more than in the past.
Emphasising that they have included women in communal living by developing a line of struggle, Felek Babur mentioned the women's solidarity houses and women's shelters they have established in collaboration with municipalities.
Felek Babur said the following about their projects: "We are also setting up places where women can sell products they have made themselves to achieve economic independence. For example, this year we planted crops communally in many places using our own resources. Women exhibited their handicrafts. This problem is not only faced by the Kurdish people and women; it affects all segments of society. If it is happening here today, it will increase elsewhere tomorrow. To combat this, everyone needs to take action and be sensitive. Job opportunities need to be created and provided. Everyone must now be aware of the power and presence of women."
MA / Zeynep Durgut