While the oppression of the male-dominated system increases day by day, women did not step back from their struggle even in 2024. Women, who spent another year in struggle, did not give up their gains against increasing attacks, reactionary pressures and impositions, and resisted to live. On the streets against male violence and massacres, they raised their voices and objections against the cult and community order, war, isolation, private war, discriminatory and sexist masculine policies. 

 

EQUAL REPRESENTATION IN LOCAL 

 

Women, who entered the year 2024 with an election agenda (March 31 local elections), took to the streets to ask for the account of 320 women who were murdered in the previous year and exposed the misogynist policies of the government. The agenda of women who want to take part as subjects in all areas of life was equality in the local elections. Women's Platform for Equality (EŞİK) announced its 5 urgent conditions before the elections: “Equal Citizenship Rights and Gender Equality, Combating Violence against Women, Gender Sensitive Urban Planning, Social, Cultural and Economic Support for Women and Ecological Cities Resistant to Climate Change and Disasters”. The only party with equal representation was the Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party). DEM Party won 78 municipalities, including 3 metropolitan municipalities (3 co-mayors resigned), and ensured equality in all mechanisms.

 

GAINS STRENGTHENED 

 

In a year in which attacks on women's gains never ended, the co-mayor system implemented in the cities won by the DEM Party gave hope. In all municipalities, agreements were made with bar associations to provide legal support to women against violence. Women's institutions closed down by the trustees were reopened and firsts were achieved. Mother Taybet Solidarity Center in Şirnex (Şırnak), Zîn Women's Solidarity Center in Agirî (Ağrı), Women's Rest House in Pirsûs, Women's Library and Research Center in Wan (Van), Women's Center in Peyas, Women's Solidarity Center in Wêranşar and Women's Policy Directorate in Cizîr. In addition to agreements with trade unions to protect women's rights, transportation was facilitated and the JINKART system was introduced.  

 

TRUSTEE ATTACKS 

 

However, the intolerance towards the gains in local governments continued in this period and trustees were appointed to 7 municipalities, 5 from DEM Party and 2 from CHP, by the decision of the Ministry of Interior. The first activities of the trustees were again misogynistic. Women's institutions within the municipality were rendered dysfunctional. While the trustee of Êlih (Batman) Municipality appointed a male coordinator to the Women's Directorate, the Kurdish “Kompleksa Werzîşê Ya Jinê” sign on the Women's Sports Complex was taken down. “Batman Municipality Sports Complex” was put up in its place. Mêrdîn (Mardin) Metropolitan Municipality trustee appointed a man to head the Women and Youth Department. 

 

WOMEN FOR DEMOCRACY 

 

Against the usurpation of will, women's organizations formed “Women for Democracy” and called for struggle, saying “We will not allow you to usurp our will and destroy women's achievements”. With the call of the Free Women's Movement (Tevgera Jinên Azad-TJA), the umbrella organization of Kurdish women, women took to the streets against the trustees and were at the forefront of the struggle. One of the first reactions raised against the male-dominated mentality with the slogan “Jin, jiyan, azadî” came from Hakime Kılınç, the mother of İpek Erin, who was raped and driven to suicide by specialist sergeant Musa Orhan. 

 

STILL NO NEWS FROM GÜLISTAN DOKU

 

In 2024, women continued to ask about the fate of Gülistan Doku, a student at Munzur University Vocational School of Child Development who has not been heard from since January 5, 2020. While the fate of Gülistan Doku, who was last seen arguing with her stepfather, police officer Zaynal Abarakov, in front of a pastry shop, has not been clarified despite the 5 years that have passed, women did not stop asking “Where is Gülistan Doku?” in 2024. On January 5, women took to the streets in many places and announced that they were after the perpetrators.

 

PERPETRATORS REWARDED

 

In 2024, a year in which 8 women were murdered in one day, the perpetrators of violence and massacres were either given "reward-like" sentences, or they went out on leave and murdered women, or they were not arrested at all. 

 

NO ACCESS TO HEALTH OR JUSTICE

 

Judicial mechanisms did not protect women and children from violence and murder.

 

Women lost their lives because they could not access health care as well as the judiciary. Dilan Durmuş, who was taken to the hospital in Elkê (Beytuşebap) district of Şirnex for delivery, was not intervened on the grounds that "there was no gynaecologist" and died from haemorrhage.

 

347 WOMEN MURDERED IN 11 MONTHS  

 

With its pro-government publications that “narrativize” violence against women instead of preventing it, JINNEWS gave a platform to male perpetrators. According to JINNEWS' 11-month violence tally, 347 women were murdered and 195 women died suspiciously.  Mechanisms that did not protect women knocked on their families' doors as “creditors” when they were murdered.  The house of the mother of Selma Abacı, who was murdered with her two children in İskenderun by Turgay Kaya, a village guard to whom she had a religious marriage, was seized due to electricity debt. 

 

UNIFORMED VIOLENCE

 

Uniformed men murdered women and children again this year. A significant number of the perpetrators of the disappearances and murders of women and children were uniformed persons such as police officers, village guards and specialized sergeants. 

 

* In Erzin district of Hatay, specialist sergeant Alaattin Gözen murdered Elif Gözen, to whom he was married.

 

* In Gölcük district of Kocaeli province, retired non-commissioned officer Erdoğan Canbazoğlu (71) murdered his wife Dursine Canbazoğlu (67).

 

* In Seyhan district of Adana, specialist sergeant Gökhan Çelik murdered the woman he was married to and wounded 3 others.  

 

* In Artûklû district of Mêrdîn, police officer H.Ş. murdered his wife M.Ş. and his son K.H.Ş. 

 

* In Ankara, deputy commissioner Veysel Ö. murdered the woman he was married to and her two children. 

 

WOMEN JOURNALISTS TARGETED

 

Violence, threats, detentions and arrests against women journalists who expose perpetrators of harassment, rape, violence and massacres increased in 2024. Women journalists' rights were usurped and they were prevented from practicing their profession. According to the data of Mezopotamya Women Journalists Association (MKG), 9 women journalists had to meet the year 2024 in prison. According to MKG's monthly reports, 21 women journalists were detained in 2024. 7 of them were investigated and 8 journalists were arrested. While many women journalists have been sentenced to imprisonment, 5 women journalists are still under arrest. 

 

0,38 TL FROM THE BUDGET FOR WOMEN 

 

In the Central Government Budget Law Proposal for 2025, 5 billion 941 million 139 thousand liras were allocated for women. From the budget of 407 billion 10 million 627 thousand TL for the Ministry of Family and Social Services, 5.9 billion TL was allocated for “empowerment of women” and 16 billion 666 million 881 thousand TL for “protection and strengthening of the family”. When the budget allocated is compared to the female population, the annual budget for a woman is approximately 139.3 TL, while the daily budget is 0,38 TL. 

 

PACKAGES AND PLANS AGAINST WOMEN

 

Continuing its misogynist policies throughout the year, the AKP government established the “Council for the Protection and Strengthening of the Family” within the scope of the “Vision Document and Action Plan for the Protection and Strengthening of the Family” prepared by the Ministry of Family and Social Services. With these policies, the AKP aims to make divorce more difficult, while making women's gains, especially the right to “alimony”, a subject of discussion. Speaking at the introduction of the plan, Minister Göktaş claimed that family ties were weakening and said: “Marriages are decreasing in our country, the number of divorces is increasing and the age of marriage is rising. Our population is getting older”. 

 

Another agenda item that drew reaction was the “woman's surname” regulation included in the 9th Judicial Package. However, as a result of women's struggle, the article stating that women cannot use their surnames alone after marriage was removed from the 9th Judicial Package. Minister of Health Kemal Memişoğlu, who came to the agenda with the negligence of the "newborn gang", drew attention to the decreasing population and said, “As our President said, every house should have 3 children.” 

 

MALE VIOLENCE IN PARLIAMENT 

 

Beatings, insults, violence and sexist curses flew through the air in the Parliament where misogynist discourses were produced. In the Parliament, where women's acquired rights were targeted, women MPs defending their rights were the targets of attacks. DEM Party Group Deputy Chair Gülistan Kılıç Koçyiğit's eyebrow was wounded due to the attack of AKP members. Gülistan Kılıç Koçyiğit responded to the attack with the words “We will not allow the legitimization of unlawfulness by means of pressure and force.” 

 

SPECIAL WAR AND ORGANIZED WOMEN'S POWER 

 

This year, the special war policies implemented in Kurdistan through methods such as prostitution, drugs, spying and forced migration hit the organized women's power. The Democratic Regions Party (DBP) Women's Assembly's “Women's Meetings against the Special War” highlighted the organization of women against the special war policies. The Free Women's Movement (Tevgera Jinên Azad-TJA) also organized workshops on how to organize against special war policies. In addition, the “Freedom Readings” organized as part of the campaign for “Freedom for Abdullah Öcalan and a solution to the Kurdish issue” were well attended and discussed by women. 

 

PEACE MOTHERS 

 

Peace Mothers, who started the year demanding an end to the isolation of PKK Leader Abdullah Öcalan and a democratic solution to the Kurdish issue, continued their struggle this year. Hunger strikes began in prisons on November 27 due to the lack of news from Abdullah Öcalan. Prisoners demanded Abdullah Öcalan's freedom and a solution to the Kurdish issue. Peace Mothers, who held Justice Watches in many cities with similar demands, shouted that peace cannot come to these lands until the Imrali isolation is lifted.   

 

The attacks on the mothers insisting on peace did not stop. Peace Mothers Emine Kaya (54), Nezete Bölek (58) and Sare Kaya (59), who were arrested during an operation in Bilêxşê village of Kercews (Gercüş) district of Êlih (batman), were subjected to strip search at the entrance of the prison. The mothers were released at their first hearing on October 26.  

 

EMINE ŞENYAŞAR WINS 

 

The Justice Watch of Emine Şenyaşar, whose husband and two sons were murdered by the bodyguards and relatives of former AKP MP İbrahim Halil Yıldız in Pirsûs (Suruç) district of Riha (Urfa) on June 14, 2018, resulted in a victory. Emine Şenyaşar started a demonstration in front of Urfa Courthouse on March 9, 2021 demanding the release of her son Fadıl Şenyaşar, and her demand was met with the release of Fadıl Şenyaşar at the hearing held at Malatya 3rd Assize Court on October 18. With the release of her son, Emine Şenyaşar organized a condolence for her murdered husband Hacı Esvet Şenyaşar and her sons Celal and Adil Şenyaşar after 6 years and 4 months.

 

MARCH 8 AND NOVEMBER 25 PROTESTS 

 

On March 8, International Women's Day, women made statements in many cities and emphasized that the struggle against the attacks of the masculine system will continue.  “We are not giving up our rights, our lives, our bodies, our identities, our cities, our workplaces,” women said in one voice. 

 

On November 25, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, women took to the streets in all four corners of the city and responded to the Diyarbakır Governorate's ban on the slogan “Jin, jiyan, azadî” by saying, “We will shout tirelessly. Jin, jiyan azadî”. For the first time this year, men also took to the streets on November 25th. The men chanted “Jin, jiyan, azadî” in their statement in Amed (Diyarbakır). 

 

THEY WERE ON THE FIELD FOR CHILDREN 

 

Men murdered many children along with women this year. Women took to the streets for Narin Güran and all murdered children, protesting the state's lack of preventive policies. 

 

JIN JIYAN AZADI 

 

Against all these events, women did not take a step back from the struggle. On the anniversary of the resistance in Iran, women called for “Let's be on the streets with our voices, slogans and the spirit of ‘Jin, jiyan, azadî’” and shouted that the solution lies in this slogan. 

 

WOMEN ON THE BORDER FOR A SOLUTION 

 

At the end of the year, women's agenda was also dominated by the attacks on North and East Syria and the developments in Syria. Women who insist on peace did not remain silent against these attacks. Peace Mothers marched on the border, pointing out that war and conflicts are not a solution and once again saying “enough is enough”. 

 

The events at the end of the year showed that women's struggle for a world without exploitation, violence and war will continue unabated in 2025.   

 

Tomorrow: Prisons

 

MA / Zemo Ağgöz