Women in Turkey are up in arms. Ultra-right President Erdoğan has withdrawn from the Istanbul Convention, which pledges to prevent and prosecute domestic violence and promote equality.
Erdoğan claims the treaty doesn’t reflect Turkish values, stating it undermines the family and promotes homosexuality. In the meantime, gender-based and “domestic” murders are on the rise. Do upticks in femicides fit into his “family values?” Asserting patriarchal far-right norms is part of how reactionary governments suppress dissent and establish control.
But Turkish feminists and LGBTQ+ rights activists are standing up and fighting back. Since Erdoğan’s action, thousands have been in the streets demanding an end to the violence and full equality. The state’s response is to bash and arrest any and all, including journalists.
But that isn’t stopping these intrepid warriors. Tired of the assaults, rapes and murders, they have no interest in turning back the hands of time. Their militancy is inspiring. Undoubtedly, another reason Erdoğan and his ilk want to shut them down.
Stop the violence against women in Turkey and everywhere else! Full equality now!
