ISTANBUL (DIHA) –Women supported D.A, a member of Women Assembly of the Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) who had been harassed by the police on April 16, 2010, in Diyarbakir.

Nimet Tanrikulu, member of the Women Initiative for Peace, made a call for all women to support D.A since she was harassed by police just because of her opposite political identity.
“Kurdish women involved in political struggle have been sexually abused by the state’s force. Kurdish women are target of sexual violence of the state as we have seen the examples. All women in Turkey need to show their reactions and lift up women’s voice. This ugliness based on long lasted conflicts in the region needs to be ended. We also need to coup up with killers protected by the state.”

Fahriye Ilgaz, member of the Proletarian Women Association, also made an announcement to support D.A.

“All sexual tortures practiced by so-called unknown assailants are actually very well-known forces. As proletarian women, we are on sexually harassed Kurdish women’s side. We have already formed a platform to show our reactions against sexual harassment. We are going to do whatever it takes to find responsible people. And we believe the state knows all the assailants. It is shame for the state as well as crime. Perpetrators need to be revealed and punished as soon as possible.”

Amargi Women Collective member lawyer Yasemin Oz also supported the invitation made by women organization to support Kurdish women who were sexually harassed.

Democratic and Free Women Movement (DOKH) members had been sexually harassed in June 2009. And then D.A. a woman from BDP Women Assembly was sexually assaulted when she was in elevator, following this incident.

(gü)