We condemn the attacks aimed on Kurdish women and all women who are longing for democracy and peace!

On 14 June 2003 Gülbahar Gündüz, a board member from the Women’s Section of the Democratic Peoples` Party DEHAP in Istanbul, was arrested, tortured and raped by four plain clothed policemen. Being arrested the policemen threatened her with the words: “Why are you women playing a leading part in the Campaign for a General Amnesty? You think that we won’t touch you on the streets, because you are women. But this should be a lesson to all of you women!” Being kidnapped in front of the DEHAP-building in Istanbul Gülbahar Gündüz was blindfolded and beaten up till she became unconscious. As she stated at a press conference, which was organised by the Human Rights Association IHD yesterday: “When I came back to conscience I found myself in a very hot room in the celery. There I was interrogated, while my eyes were blindfolded and I was tortured. They hit me with a very hard thing on my head. By using another metallic thing they tore off the skin at my back and other parts of my body. They extinguished cigarettes in my face and I raped me by oral penetration. After 8 hours they put me in a car and dropped me off on a highway near Gaziosmanpasha (…)”

As it was made clear by the threats of the offenders, this attack against Gülbahar Gündüz is at the same time an attack against all women who are longing for peace and democracy.

In hundreds of cases the Turkish State has not only been sentenced for its human right abuses by the European Human Rights Court, but international human rights organisations reported repeatedly on the massacres and tortures, the policy of assimilation and discrimination against the Kurdish people. In these days Turkish government wants to add a further step to this policy by presenting a new “Act of Remorse”, which aims at turning the victims of state oppression into offenders. By organising themselves Kurdish women have played a leading part in the struggle for peace, democracy and justice in Turkey during the last years. This they also carried on in the recent campaign for Social Peace and Democratic Participation, which was started by a huge number of civil organisations and NGOs opposing the “Act of Remorse”. As the Turkish authorities also realized that women are the essential strength of the democratisation process, they are aiming with inhumane, sexist attacks at all women. We know; the torture and the violence used by Turkish state forces against Gülbahar Gündüz are a result of the patriarchal system, its mentality and institutions. By these means they want to prevent women from speaking out, developing their strength and free identity. They want to prevent women from playing an active role in creating a democratic and peaceful society.

The patriarchal system can neither stand the political and social engagement of women that aims on developing a new live in peace and justice, nor respect women’s choice towards their own live. So-called hour killings still punish behaviours or relationships that do not fit into the restrictive and conservative religious pattern, and they are directly or indirectly supported by the state and its law. Not only in Nigeria, but also in Kurdistan and Turkey women are still confronted with this reality. Only 6 days ago Semse Allak died in Diyarbakir Hospital due to the stoning punishment carried out by her own relatives 7 month earlier. She had been found “guilty” of crossing the boarders of the religious construction of “honour”. Therefore she had to die.

The message that should be given to all of us by these attacks is clear: “You are a woman - Do not dare to step out of the line! Do not dare to seek for another live or alternatives!”

On the contrary to this we see it as our responsibility to strengthen our engagement for peace, justice and equality within the societies as well as on international level. 

We are declaring our solidarity with Gülbahar Gündüz and with all other victims of patriarchal violence. We condemn all attacks against the democracy and peace struggle of the Kurdish women!

We demand the prosecution and the conviction of the offenders and an immediate end to the harassment and attacks on the women’s democracy and peace movement in Turkey!

Therefore we call especially upon women’s institutions and individuals as well as on the public opinion to express their solidarity with Gülbahar Gündüz and to show their protest against the practices of the Turkish security forces.

International Free Women's Foundation
Amsterdam, 16 June 03