Thousands held a march in Mersin today in protest at the murder of Özgecan Aslan, blockading the D-400 highway, to demand justice for the 20-year-old woman, who was brutally killed after being raped. 

Tens of thousands of people gathered today in front of  Çağ University, where Özgecan studied, to protest the brutal murder of the young woman and the increase in the rate of murders of women in Turkey. The university staff, students and Özgecan’s friends supported the commemoration, coming together with the crowd in front of the university holding placards reading: “Rape is a crime against humanity, don’t be part of it. Özgecan is immortal”. Departing from the university building, the crowd marched to the D-400 highway, blockading the road. Women on the march carried placards reading: “Destruct this system that creates rapist from a baby”, “Murdering women is in the nature of this system”, “We are ashamed of being men”, as well as frequently chanting the slogans “Justice for Özgecan”, “Women, Life, Freedom” and “Stop the murder of women”.

The march was joined by many women’s organisations and NGO’s as well students of Çağ University. While the protestors frequently chanted slogans demonstrating their rage at the brutal murder of Özgecan, one of the parents submitted a request to the university administration to increase the number of public university buses for the transportation of university students.

While women protestors marched hand in hand, a group of motorcyclists also supported the demonstration. The group then held a press conference in the city centre. Speaking here, Çağ university student Esengül Saluk said the murder mustn’t be related to any ethnic, political or religious issue, warning the authorities not to exploit it for political gain, which would obscure the murder itself. Saluk demanded the maximum punishment for the murderers of Özgecan as well as new legislation to prevent the murder of women, stressing that improving the status of women in society, particularly in the education system, must be given priority. Saluk also said the drivers of minibuses should not be allowed to use the vehicles after working hours and that drivers must be subjected to professional training.