Women across Turkey took to the streets to protest following the tragic murders of Ayşenur Halil and İkbal Uzuner. The Women Will Stop Femicides Platform organized a demonstration in front of the Edirnekapı Walls, where one of the murders took place. Various political parties and feminist organizations, including CHP, DEM Party, EHP Socialist Feminists, as well as several women’s branches of political parties, joined the protest to show their support.
Voices Against Impunity
During the protest, banners with messages such as “We will end impunity. We will stop harassment and murder” were raised, along with slogans demanding justice for the victims. The demonstrators called on the government to enforce Law No. 6284, which aims to protect women against violence. The historic Edirnekapı Walls, once a symbol of the city’s heritage, were now associated with the tragic loss of women’s lives due to femicides. The participants emphasized the need for equality, stating that women require equality, not just familial ties.
A Call for Action
Güneş Fadime Akşahin, a representative of the Young Feminists Federation, addressed the crowd during the protest, condemning the brutal murders of the young women. She highlighted the case of Semih Çelik, who had been harassing İkbal for a year before taking her life. Akşahin criticized the lack of preventive measures and called out the authorities for their inaction against perpetrators of violence against women. She emphasized the urgent need for a change in the male-dominated societal norms and called for the implementation of stricter laws to protect women.
Challenging the Status Quo
The demonstration also shed light on the recent incidents of harassment and assault on women in Beyoğlu, where two men harassed a woman on the streets. Despite having a history of criminal offenses, the perpetrators were released, only to be detained again after public outcry. The speakers at the protest questioned the effectiveness of the government’s “zero tolerance” policy towards femicides, pointing out the glaring loopholes in the justice system that allow perpetrators to roam freely and continue their violent acts.
In Ankara, a similar protest took place on Sakarya Street, where women’s rights activists gathered to denounce the killings of İkbal and Ayşenur. The protesters displayed banners with messages calling for an end to impunity and demanding an end to harassment and violence against women. The organizers highlighted the alarming rate of femicides in the country and the failure of authorities to address the root causes of gender-based violence.
The demonstrations in both Istanbul and Ankara served as a powerful reminder of the pervasive issue of violence against women in Turkey and the urgent need for concrete actions to protect women’s rights and ensure their safety in public spaces. The protesters vowed to continue their fight against femicides and called for a society where women can live free from fear and violence.
