A demonstration was held in Aachen, Germany for two women who were murdered on December 1 and 3, in the same neighbourhood.

The protest demonstration was organized by the Deniz Fırat Women’s Assembly and supported by YJKE Germany, UTAMARA Women’s Center and Aachen Frauen Helfen Frauen. The demonstration started at the Friedrich Willhelm Square.

Women living in and around Aachen participated in the demonstration with photographs of the two murdered women and signs in German exposing violence against women. The protesters also carried a banner that read “Crimes against women are political, the solution is democracy” in German.

Women passing by were also interested in the demonstration and commented that they think the demonstration has great meaning. Women chanted “End Feminicide”, “End Violence Against Women”, “We Women Don’t Want Feminicide” and “Jin Jiyan Azadi” in the demonstration and passed out hundreds of flyers.

“WE WILL MONITOR THEIR CASES”

Representatives from women’s institutions gave speeches in the demonstration. Deniz Fırat Women’s Assembly Representative said: “We formed a commission and we have been following the murders for days. We were able to identify Nuran. We have no information on the other young woman’s identity yet. The police does not share information with us. We have information from the German press and from people who knew Nuran. Nuran was 40 years old and had 3 children. She went to the police several times for the violence she was subjected to. The night she was killed she called the police again. Her husband violently murdered Nuran before the police got there. People who knew Nuran said she and her husband fought a lot, and her husband was an alcohol and drug abuser.

The other woman was 34 years old and had one child. She took her child to the park, and was murdered by her husband there. Passersby on their morning exercise found her lifeless body by the water. Nuran’s murderer has been caught, but the other woman’s murderer is still free. We will be monitoring the cases of both women, we will also take care of their funerals.”

“LAWS ARE INSUFFICIENT, WE MUST INCREASE THE JOINT STRUGGLE”

UTAMARA Women’s Center Representative said: “We strongly condemn this massacre. Two women, two mothers have been killed in Aachen. Because they wanted to be the one deciding how they live their lives. Violence against women due to patriarchal thinking is on the rise in the world and in Germany. Laws don’t protect women in Germany. The current laws can’t stop feminicides and feminicide and violence against women are on the rise. As women, we must increase the joint struggle against all violence against women.”

“ONE WOMAN IS KILLED EVERY DAY IN GERMANY, WOMEN ARE THREATENED”

Achen Frauen Helfen Frauen Representative Angelika Gey said: “I am in shock about the feminicide in Aachen. Women are murdered everywhere in the world, and in Germany. The Bundeskriminalamt (Germany’s Federal Crime Bureau) announced the crime statistics of 2016, according to which one woman is killed or threatened with death by her partner every day in Germany. We are convinced that despite protection laws, women’s lives are not guaranteed in Germany. As the laws don’t protect women, to prevent all crimes against women the joint struggle must be strengthened and we must stand against violence together. We women acting together and protesting the massacre here today, and men showing solidarity with this demonstration has given me joy. It’s important that men are here today.”

Musician Sosin was also present in the demonstration and sang a mourning song in Soranî about women.