10 women died in suspicious circumstances in Van in past 10 months

Star Women's Association and TJA said that 10 women have died in suspicious circumstances in Van in the last 10 months.

The Star Women's Association and Tevgera Jinên Azad (TJA) held a press conference about violence against women in the city. Speaking at the statement made at the association building, Van Star Women's Association President, lawyer Zeynep Demir, said: "According to the Star Women's Association violence record, 17 women lost their lives in suspicious circumstances between 2022 and 2023. In 2024, 10 suspicious deaths occurred in Van in 10 months. We know that the reason why those suspicious deaths in our province cannot be solved is that the perpetrators are protected and the male judiciary does not want to identify them. 61 applications were made to the Star Women's Association in 2024. The type of violence denounced is mostly rape, harassment, blackmail and prostitution."

'Women are exposed to violence in many areas'

Demir said that the most common form of violence that women, children and LGBTI+ people are exposed to is psychological, physical, sexual and economic violence. She added: "Psychological violence is applied alone, as well as in combination with other forms of violence such as physical, economic, persistent stalking, online violence."

'We will expand our organized struggle'

Demir spoke about the cases that Star Women's Association is following and the work they are carrying out, and said: "Lack of implementation or late implementation of laws, gender inequality in society, all kinds of social or political policies implemented cause violence against women and femicides to be rendered invisible. Unless it is determined who killed women and why; unless fair trials are held and the perpetrators receive deterrent punishments; unless preventive measures are implemented, we will continue to say that violence against women is political and expand our organized struggle. We will continue to struggle against this organized violence with the 'Jin, Jiyan, Azadî' philosophy that has spread all over the world until a world order without violence and exploitation is established."