Moving its attacks across the border on February 10, 2021, Turkey expanded its operations to the regions of Metîna, Avaşîn and Zap on April 23, 2021, after the failure of the Federated Kurdistan Region in the Garê area. In the region where chemical weapons were used, air strikes were carried out, and KDP Special Forces reinforced, the women welcomes the upcoming March 8 International Women's Day under the shadow of war.

 

In the Federated Kurdistan Region where economy tanked and political crisis, violence, massacres and discriminatory policies sky rocketed, violence against women increased by 33%. While the violence increases with the policy of impunity, 16 women were murdered in the first 9 months of 2021 and the deaths of 45 women were recorded as suicide. In the region where 108 cases of rape were reported, women made 1048 applications to the relevant institutions. The women who came together to prepare a law proposal against domestic violence, submitted the proposal to Kurdistan Regional Parliament. Getting ready for March 8, the women will warn the goverment about the increased violence and shout out their demands for the perpetrators to be punished accordingly with the crimes they commit.

 

Kurdistan Free Women's Movement (RJAK) Member Jîno Reşid called on women to embrace 8 March.

 

PROSTITUTION IS ON THE RISE

 

Stating that authoritarian rule is dominant in the region, Jîno Reşid said, “This mentality harms the society, families and people of the region. Women are killed because of this mentality, and a new one is added to these deaths every day. This sexist mentality leads to an increase in violence, harassment and rape against women. It doesn't allow the women to voice their demands and trap them from all sides. The women who demand freedom and fight for it are being threatened. Women are bullied into silence. However there are many women who object to this situation. The women are fed up with this system. This rage is not only against the system but also to the life that is forced on the women. However they are trying to smother this scream of the women into silence. The worst threat on women is unemployement. Women are being threatened with their jobs. With the unemployement of the women, prostitution is on the rise in the region. Especially men who take part in political parties have different relations with women. The murder and violence of these women, whose only concern is economic, is considered legitimate. There is no one to lead here. For this reason, the demand for freedom of women in the region remains weak. The result is death, violence and rape.” 

 

WOMEN ARE DECLARED CRIMINALS

 

Reşid said that special policies are being carried out in the region over the female body and added, "Women politicians, academics, journalists and activists are arrested and imprisoned. Or they are threatened and removed from the fight. The current system is committing a moral crime here. All women active in the struggle are being exposed.  A few more of our members have been arrested recently. Even the journalists based in Europe were exposed. This system never served or helped the women or never attempted to do so. The men are handed over the right to murder women. And the society sees this as a legitimate right of the men. When a woman is murdered, they say they restored their honour, or they claim that they were drunk. The women are blamed even after they die. They say it was a domestic issue and cover up the murder of women. These policies encourages the killers. "

 

'WE ARE TAKING TO STREETS ON MARCH 8'

 

Underlining that they will be taking to streets on March 8 against all methods of violence, Reşîd made the following call: "As RJAK we will continue with our work. We have organised many seminars against violence. We are booked everyday until March 8. And what we do is still not enough. This region needs a revolution. We need a revolution for change and transformation. We have a call to all women. Take to the streets on March 8. We have to stand against the violence against women, the murder of women. We must respond radically to these attacks. Us, the women of Bashur will be on the streets with the spirit of Clara Zetkin, Hevrin; sakine, Arin and Viyan. Let's take to the streets against all crimes committed against women."

 

 

 

MA / Zeynep Durgut