Women in North Kurdistan take to streets for March 8

Women took to the streets under the leadership of the Free Women’s Movement (TJA), Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP), Human Rights Association (IHD) and women’s organizations in the cities of North Kurdistan to celebrate the March 8, International Working Women’s Day.

VAN

In Van, TJA, HDP’s Women’s Assembly, Aid and Solidarity Association with the Families of Prisoners and Convicts (TUHAY-DER) prepared solidarity cards for jailed politician women. The women wrote solidarity messages with the words “Dem Dema Azadiya Jinan e” (Time for women’s freedom) on the cards and went to the post office to send the cards to prisons. In a speech there, TUHAY-DER Van Co-chair Edibe Babur said that women should refuse the isolation executed in prisons, particularly the isolation imposed on Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan.

The Star Women’s Association made a press statement at the association’s office. Its head, Lawyer Dilan Kunt Ayan, said that women will take to streets and give strong messages on March 8, 2022.

Ayan spoke about the situation of sick prisoners and said, “Perpetrators of violence, rapists and mafia members are released through discriminatory execution amendments, while sick prisoners are left to die in prisons despite official health reports. Moreover, women whose labour is exploited inside and outside the home are ignored. However, we, women, do not take a step back, and we are growing each day in our women’s struggle. For us, women’s struggle means fighting against violence and labour exploitation, and resisting for justice and peace. The fighting spirit that has been encouraging us for thousands of years will continue and women will win the struggle. This fighting spirit will also show that the 21st century is the era of women.”

“We are raising our voices for the women murdered by men in 2021. We are raising the voice that hundreds of abused children can’t raise. We are the voice of women imprisoned by unlawful decisions for waging a women’s struggle. We are the voice of mothers who carry out a justice vigil in bar associations for their relatives in prison. We existed in the past, we exist today. We will exit tomorrow. We are waiting for all women to join the rally we will hold tomorrow,” Ayan added.

After the press statement, women distributed leaflets and flowers as they invited citizens to the rally to be held tomorrow. The police frequently warned women not to chant slogans and play daf (erbane) during the march, yet women shrugged away the police warning.

BATMAN

Members of the IHD’s Batman Office came together in Atatürk Park and made a statement by opening a banner “Long live March 8, We are not silent, we are not afraid, we do not obey”. HDP Women’s Assembly Spokeswoman Ayşe Acar Başaran and Batman Municipality Co-Mayor Songül Korkmaz, who was dismissed by the government, also attended the event. “We are being killed on the streets, the houses are full of violence and poverty with scarce food. We see another long list of violations against women on March 8 in Turkey. Those who do not resolve the problems become “perpetrators,” said the IHD office co-chair Rümeysa Deniz Kaya and pointed to the increasing violence against women.

URFA

 HDP Suruç District Organization held a Women’s Feast in the district’s office. The banner “Dem Dema Azadiya jinan e” was hung in the office hall where the event was held. Dozens of women attended in their colourful traditional clothes and danced to Kurdish songs. Women chanted “jin jiyan azadi” (woman, life, freedom) during the event. Mother of Peace Nebiye Aslantekin sang songs in Kurdish.

ŞIRNAK

In the Cizre district of Şırnak, members of the Peace Mothers Council, TJA and HDP’s Women’s Council distributed leaflets for the 8 March rally to be held in Silopi tomorrow. Women who played erbane and sang songs in Orhan Doğan Street and Nur neighbourhood invited all women to the Newroz Area.

SILOPI

TJA and HDP’s Women’s Assembly visited shopkeepers and neighbourhoods in Silopi and called for participation in a rally. HDP Şırnak Deputy Nuran İmir, TJA activists, members of the Peace Mothers Council and numerous women activists wearing traditional clothes first visited female shopkeepers. Women later went to Art Street and danced to the songs they sang there.

In the meantime, the Peace Mothers Şırnak Council made a statement in front of the HDP Silopi District Organization building. Speaking on behalf of mothers, Emine Özerk congratulated women on March 8 and called for participation in the rally to be held tomorrow.

A rally will be held in Silopi between 13.00 and 17.00 tomorrow at the Newroz Area under the motto “It’s time for women’s freedom”. HDP Group Deputy chair Meral Danış Beştaş and HDP Şırnak deputy Nuran İmir will make speeches during the rally, and artists Xecê, Hedîye and local music groups will appear on stage.