The Women’s Council of the Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) has initiated a disciplinary investigation against MP Saliha Aydeniz. The move comes as part of the party’s internal review following the death of Kurdish journalist and DEM Party staff member Dilan Karaman, who was hospitalized after being driven to suicide in Diyarbakır (Amed) on 11 November 2025 and died on November 27 after spending over two weeks in intensive care.
In a detailed statement, the Women’s Council said that the ongoing discussions within the party reflect a sense of political responsibility. “We see our self-criticism and our stance as a commitment to Dilan’s memory, to the truth that emerges from the historical experience of our movement, and to all women who struggle for equality and freedom,” the statement said.
Self-criticism: shortcomings in feminist solidarity
At the same time, the Women’s Council acknowledged shortcomings in how the situation was handled. It stressed in particular that it had not been possible to organize stronger support in time within the framework of solidarity. “Our greatest self-criticism is that we were unable to build a stronger relationship in terms of feminist comradeship with a comrade with whom we had worked politically,” the Women’s Council said. The statement also emphasized that political institutions remain shaped by patriarchal power relations. However, it noted, the Kurdish women’s movement has tried for decades to transform these structures through collective struggle. The aim, it said, is “to overcome all gender-based relations of power and domination and to build a new social order.”
Dealing with a violent partner
A central part of the statement addresses the violence Karaman is said to have experienced. According to the party, her former partner, Mazlum Toprak, had subjected her to physical and psychological violence. “It is clear that the perpetrator’s physical and psychological violence deepened the process that led to her suicide,” the Women’s Council said. The party stated that it would pursue all legal steps to ensure the man is held accountable. “We will make sure that he does not go unpunished.”
The Women’s Council also acknowledged that the party may have learned about the violence too late and therefore could not activate sufficient protection and support mechanisms. In the future, such structures within the party must be strengthened to better protect women, it noted.
Aydeniz says she will accept investigation results
As part of the internal review, Aydeniz—whose staff member Karaman had been—announced her resignation from her position as an administrative member of the parliamentary group. At the same time, she stated that she would accept the decision of the Women’s Council as well as the results of the investigation that has been initiated.
In conclusion, the Women’s Council stressed that building a free society must begin in everyday relations between people. “The construction of a free life begins with transforming our relationships here and now,” the statement said.
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