Women’s Defense Network activists rally in Istanbul ahead of 25 November demonstrations

Activists of the Istanbul Women’s Defense Network rallied in Istanbul in the first of the actions planned to mark 25 November: “We raise our call from woman to woman: you, me, them, us: Together to the resistance!”

Activists of the Istanbul Women’s Defense Network rallied in Kadıköy, Istanbul, in the first of a number of actions planned to mark 25 November, the international day against violence against women. “Let us strengthen women’s complicity and our pact against patriarchy everywhere. Let us organize networks everywhere in which we defend each other. Let’s storm the streets shoulder to shoulder on 25 November.” 

“Every day women are exposed to violence,” said activist Rüya Kurtuluş adding that “this year we will reach 25 November at a time when the confluence of domestic and state violence is experiencing a new high point. While we are besieged from all sides by patriarchal capitalism, we oppose it without falling into despair. We draw our strength from our solidarity and our courage from our organization. We raise our call from woman to woman: you, me, them, us: Together to the resistance.”

Turkey is ruled by male justice under the one-man regime

In Turkey, the one-man regime’s male justice prevails, said activist Kurtuluş, adding that women are humiliated, beaten, raped and murdered by men who are rewarded with impunity by the judiciary. “The Istanbul Convention won by women was abolished and women who oppose patriarchal violence with self-defense will be punished for refusing to allow themselves to be murdered. We won’t accept that”.

The activist said: “We call on women and LGBTIQ+ to take creative actions all over the country to rebel against the patriarchal system that serves a small minority and keeps billions in exploitation and oppression.”

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