HATAY
Berfin Özek was made the victim of an acid attack by Ozan Çeltik. She has since became one of the symbolic names of the struggle against male violence.
Berfin shared her face, which she couldn’t even look in the mirror, on social media. She said “this face is not my face, its the face of society’s shame.” She underlined the weight of the judging male mentality and violence. What Berfin wants now is to be operated as soon as possible and that Ozan Çeltik never leaves the prison.
The 19-year-old living in the town of İskenderun in Hatay, Berfin Özek, was attacked by her friend, Ozan Çeltik with sulfuric acid, on the evening of January 15 when she wanted to leave the classroom and go home. Berfin, who was being treated in Adana for 3 months, lost her right eye as a result of the attack and has partial vision in the other. Berfin, who had been treated for months, was constantly examined by the doctors, who did not think she would survive, as she had hypnoxia.
“I was treated by womens solidarity”
Following the attack, Berfin’s has disclosed that she had recieved great support and solidarity from women from all over Turkey, and the campaign was launched. When Berfin applied to the state to have facial recovery surgery, she was told that the surgery is categorised as aestetic surgery and could not be offered by the State.
‘I had plans for the future‘
Berfin, reported that she has divided her life into ‘before the attack’ and ‘after the attack’.
“I was going to the school. I had plans for the future. I was interested in music, playing the guitar. I was a woman who gave value to everyone around me. I wanted to be a psychologist, give people compassion. If there was a fraction of this compassion and love in men, the world could have been a better place.
That’s why I wanted to be a psychologist and give people love and compassion. I was on my way home on the day of the attack. Somebody approached me and threw something in my face. I thought it was a joke. After 5 seconds I felt an indescribable pain on my face. I couldn’t breathe. My face was burning as I breathed. What is this punishment of hell? That’s what I thought.
The people took me to the hospital. I spent three months in the hospital. I can’t really describe the pain I’ve suffered. It was like my flesh was ripping. I never forget the moment I looked at myself in the mirror, and I never forget that I looked so bad.
I’ve recovered so much physical pain, but when I looked in the mirror I thought nothing would heal and it was worse than death. I got the hope of healing and survival from women who never left me alone. Iskenderun Women’s Platform and the women next to me from all over Turkey; i’m glad.
“They gave me strength.”
Berfin who was touched by the support messages she has received on social media from people everywhere in Turkey. They told me that they admired my strength. They were stregnthened by me, and i was strengthened by them. İ will never forget, one of the messages that i had received said: “i had broken my finger, i was in a lot of pain, when i heard about you. After this, my pain stopped. İ was ashamed.” This message affected me the most.
‘Because this shame is not mine‘
Berfin said when she first saw herself, she said “this is not me”. Berfin expected to have an operation, but in the process she took a step bigger than herself and shared her own photograph on social media. “Because this shame, is not mine” Berfin shared. “I wanted the whole country to see what they had done to me.”
‘I will fight against violence imposed on women‘
Berfin, who has reached a turning point in her life, as the subject of a woman’s solidarity against male violence, continues to make her future plans. In Turkey, women, children have the value of an animal; violence against women is not something that has just begun. I would like to give myself as an example. I’ve been violated many times before. He even beat him up in the middle of the street once. People who were passing me were watching. Society is very insensitive to violence against women. I’m going to resume what I want to do after surgery. I was always sensitive to violence against women, children, animals, but now I’m one of those victims. I will be in the struggle against violence against women throughout my life.
With a new face …
Berfin thought that even Ozan Celtik was in prison for this action, he burned me alive, it is a pain that cannot be described. You see me healing, but he is living in prison without suffering. Moreover, despite everything he denies even being there despite camera footage placing him in the scene. İ will never let this pain be forgotten.
What Berfin wants most now is to be operated as soon as possible and to leave the old face and the current face in the past, to be able to continue with the new face, from where she can look forward.
Hundreds of women are exposed to acidic attack
According to the international agency Acid Attacks Survivers International, who works with survivors of UK-based acid attacks, more than 500 acid attacks are reported each year, according to <https://www.asti.org.uk/a-worldwide-problem.html>. 80 percent are targeting women.
Asian countries attract the head of the acid attack against women in the world. More than 2,000 women have been subjected to acid attack in the last 10 years, especially in Pakistan and India. Naile Ferhat, the symbol name of the women attacked with acid attack in Asia, was attacked by a man who she did not want to marry. Naile came as a symbol to all the victims with a legal struggle that lasted for 7 years.
