Femicide and violence have recently increased in South Kurdistan. According to the statistics released by women's organizations in Hewlêr, Sulaymaniyah, Duhok and other regions of South Kurdistan, most of the women were burned or murdered by their partners, brothers, fathers and relatives. However, most murderers go unpunished.

Jineology Academy member Necibe Qedaxî and journalist Savo Serdar spoke to ANF about the femicides and violence against women in South Kurdistan.

Necîbe Qeredaxî revealed that femicides are increasing constantly. Emphasizing that violence against women has a history of thousands of years, Necibe Qeredaxî said that the source of violence is the male-dominated mentality.

“This issue has been separated from all social institutions, beliefs and cultures of  society. In this case, the male-dominated mentality regards women as 'the property and slave of men'. Therefore, they try to make femicide seem like an ordinary event in society. The government also uses femicides as political propaganda. Laws against femicide are passed but they are not implemented. They use femicide cases for their own political interests. Other than laws, the government has no solution to stop these barbaric murders against women. This has led to an increase in violence and femicides,” Necibe Qeredaxî remarked.

SILENCE LEADS TO AN INCREASE IN FEMICIDES

Qeredaxî pointed out that femicides are increasing all over the world, but they are happening much more in South Kurdistan. “Femicides are also connected to massacres against people and nature. For example, what happened in Şengal was a massacre against a people. Moreover, the nature of Kurdistan is currently being plundered. The Kurdistan nature has been bombed with forbidden chemical weapons in the last months, which means a massacre of both people and nature.

Unfortunately, the reactions to femicides are very insufficient. Silence leads to an increase in violence and femicides. As a society, we need to find a solution to this. The people in South Kurdistan go against femicides, but they are not organized. All institutions and organizations should act together to find a solution to the increasing murders and violence,” she said.

WOMEN ARE STILL SEEN AS AN OBJECT

Journalist Savo Serdar said that the reasons for femicides may have political, social and economic aspects, and that in some respects, the issue of faith is also involved. Serdar maintained that women are not seen as an individual but are still regarded as an object. She added that the rural exodus after the uprising in South Kurdistan has not changed the male mentality.

The journalist emphasized that the society in South Kurdistan was not ready to solve social problems such as violence and femicides at that time. “According to the Islamic belief, women are made from the ribs of men. Women have never been given an identity in society. The very existence of women is ignored. First, a line of defence should be established for women and women should be conscious and organized,” Serdar concluded.