Women in Diyarbakır say their only hope is the women's struggle while talking about increasing femicide in Turkey, “Every day should be a struggle day not only a day.”

Amed – Women have organized activities and events to celebrate International Women’s Day in many cities of Turkey. In Diyarbakır, Free Women’s Movement (Tevgera Jinên Azad-TJA) will take to the streets with the motto, “We defend freedom against isolation, life against femicide”. The movement will organize demonstrations, marches, meetings, seminars, and panels in many cities, particularly in Diyarbakır, İstanbul, Adana, Urfa, Mardin and Batman. We stopped four women on the streets of Diyarbakır and interviewed them about International Women’s Day and their demands.

“So many women would not have been killed if the necessary punishments were given”

Rabia Eliş: “Femicide and violence against women are increasing every day. I react to this situation because if wanted, femicide can be stopped. Femicide would not increase if they (judges) punished those who kill women. Women no longer have hope for the future. Women think about how they can protect themselves and their children, not their future. I am 25 years old and dream of a beautiful country. I want to have a comfortable life but life is hard in Turkey. Living in Turkey is very hard if you are a woman. I wish it was a country where people respect each other.”

“As a woman, I am not happy now”

Nimet Nergiz: “As a woman, I am not happy now. All women around me have faced violence. When I see them, I feel unhappy. We raise our voice against this (violence) but no one does anything. The ruling party just talks but doesn’t take any step. I am very worried about myself and my child. This is not living. I hope women live freely and justice will be secured for them.”

“My hope is women…”

Ece Kurtuluş: “This country disappoints me more and more every day, for this reason, I have no expectation. There is no equality for women in the country. Women are only enslaved in the country. They even don’t respect our thoughts. They try to silence people speaking out. But women should take a tough stance and stand together against this. Women support women, women stand by women. Women living in the country shouldn’t bow to anything. The only segment in the country that gives me hope right now is women. I only have hope for a women's struggle. I believe in women’s struggle to achieve its goals.”

“Let’s turn every day into International Women’s Day”

Ayten Özek: Women have no value in the country. For this reason, femicide increases. The system does everything to put women in houses. Women should always be strong. Never bow down. Women were not born just to ‘get married, have children’. Women should show how they are strong in every sphere of life. Let’s turn every day into International Women’s Day not only a day.”