ANKARA, TURKEY
Ankara Women’s Platform held a press conference in Mor Mekan on the police violence against women dancing during a protest on 12 December.
Platform member Gonul Kural said that the “Laz Tesis dance is a resistance that reveals the real criminals in many countries such as Chile, Mexico, France, and Lebanon.”
“Why are we making these actions? Because three more women were killed by male violence while we were doing this. The steps that followed Ceren Özdemir made her feel uneasy; it makes us feel uneasy too. Just as Ayşe Tuğba Arslan filed a complaint against the police and judiciary and demanded protection, we demand protection too.”
‘WOMEN WILL NOT STEP BACK’
Kural stated that the wave of rebellion and common demand of women in the world is freedom, equality, and justice. “The state that does not protect us when we encounter male violence; From November 25th to the Las Tesis dance, it puts barricades in front of women’s resistance to justice. We, women, find ways to overcome these barricades every time. The policemen of the male ruling party, which is making an effort for us to not to have this action, saw that women do not step back from their struggle.”
‘WE REJECT THE MAN’S JUSTICE’
Kural says that women are being tried to be taken away from the streets and squares. “We oppose the AKP and Erdoğan regime, which organizes violence at the top with male-dominated policies. We’re not criminals. The culprits are policemen who protect murderers, rapists and use violence against women. The offender is the judiciary who says ‘why was I not raped?’ and gifts good conduct abatements.
The offender is the AKP, which does not implement the Istanbul Convention and says no to the law. We do not leave the squares, we reject male justice. We don’t stop defending each other. We are women who resist male violence. Women are not afraid, the male state is scared. ”
