According to the "8-Month Report on Femicides" published by the Federation of Turkish Women's Associations, at least 280 women were killed by men between 1 January and 31 August 2024. The deaths of 50 women were recorded as "suspicious deaths." 153 of the women were killed with a firearm and 60 with a cutting tool.

Bahar Peker, an activist from Tevgera Jinên Azad (TJA), spoke to ANF about the issue. She said: "Recently, femicides have reached their highest level. These murders are an indication that they are part of special war policies. There has been a domination over women from the past to the present.

We see that one of the main goals in the increase in femicides in recent years is to abolish Law No. 6284. The abolition of this law had a negative impact on women. As women of Kurdistan, we said time and time again that this law should not be abolished. We shouted in the streets that the murders of women and children would increase after the withdrawal from the Istanbul Convention."

Every day a woman is murdered

Drawing attention to the fact that 31 women and 5 children were murdered in August, Bahar Peker said: "When we look, a woman is murdered almost every day. A few days ago, a woman was stabbed to death by her husband inside a pharmacy. The basis of these femicides is the policy of impunity. The masculine mentality that commits violence against women and murders women unfortunately paves the way for these massacres without receiving any punishment due to the policy of impunity and the application of good conduct discounts. We women do not have any security of life.

Women can no longer even go out on the streets safely. Women do not even have security of life within their own families. When we look at this, there is no longer any space for women to breathe."

Impunity policy paves the way for femicides

Speaking about the murder of young Narin Güran in Amed, Bahar Peker said: "The killing of Narin was followed not only in Kurdistan but in the whole world. This killing actually shows us that it is a product of a special war policy. When we were in the streets protesting the withdrawal from the Istanbul Convention, we said that these killings would happen. The fact that a child's body could not be found for 19 days is a serious problem. Narin's family also had a role in this murder.

When we look at the Sıla baby incident, it is a truly spine-chilling situation. We are at a point where it is difficult for our conscience to even say and talk about it. The abuse and murder of a two-year-old girl by her stepfather has now exceeded the limits of tolerance for us women. Frankly, these impunity policies and good conduct reductions are causing many massacres."

We must develop our self-defense against the male mentality

Bahar Peker said that a corrupt culture is being built under the name of conservatism in Kurdistan, and added: "This is very clear. We see the reflection of this in the sexual abuse of children in Quran courses. All women must now develop their self-defense against the masculine mentality. At this point, as the Kurdish women's movement, we will do our best to combat violence and massacres against women.

We women must stand against this mentality and expand our libertarian struggle. At the same time, we will continue to do our best to build a moral and political society."