Speaking at a Women’s Assembly meeting, Halide Türkoğlu, spokesperson for the Women’s Assembly of the DEM Party, evaluated recent developments both in Turkey and in the Middle East.
She said they had come together to plan for the new period, conveyed her wishes for a speedy recovery to Çiçek Otlu, and commemorated Zekiye Ilmen, a member of the Peace Mothers who recently passed away.
In her speech, Türkoğlu drew attention to the situation of political prisoners and emphasized that the release of women politicians, especially Figen Yüksekdağ, is necessary for the peace process.
Referring to the conflicts in the Middle East, Türkoğlu stated that women in Iran are paying a heavy price due to both external attacks and internal repression. She called on the Iranian regime to halt executions and urged international organizations to take a more active role. She said: “The sentences given to Mahbube Shabani, Warisha Muradi, Pakshan Azizi, Narges Mohammadi, Sharifah Mohammadi, and Shehnaz Tabari. must be stopped. The demands of the people who take to the streets calling for democracy, equality and freedom are legitimate; the regime must respond to these demands. These demands are also the demands of us women.”
Evaluating the Peace and Democratic Society process in Turkey, Türkoğlu said: “This determination has once again shown its insistence on peace through the will of women flowing from the March 8 squares to the Newroz squares. With Mr. Öcalan’s call, we will not allow anyone to overshadow the growing hope for peace among the people and women.”
Türkoğlu stated that femicides and violence against women are increasing and said both the government and the opposition must develop joint and comprehensive policies on this issue. She also referred to regulations on maternity leave, stressing that care responsibilities should not be placed solely on women.
She also protested the right violations in prisons, allegations of strip searches, and investigations launched against those who report these violations, calling for these practices to end.
Türkoğlu further drew attention to Esra Işık, who was arrested as part of environmental protests, and stated that women will continue defending nature and living spaces.
Concluding her speech, Türkoğlu emphasized that peace, equality, and freedom will be built through women’s solidarity and said that they will be present in the streets on May 1.
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