WHRDIC Statement: Solidarity with resilient women in Turkey

Women Human Rights Defenders InternationalCoalition (WHRDIC) is in solidarity with resilient women in Turkey

We,the undersigned organisations, recognise that the Turkish government has theright and responsibility to investigate the violent events of the July 2016coup attempt and to bring all those responsible to justice. We also recognisethat the immediate aftermath of the attempted coup is the type of exceptionalcircumstance in which a government could legitimately invoke a state ofemergency but still has to comply with their human rights obligations.

Weare however increasingly concerned that the far-reaching, almost unlimiteddiscretionary powers exercised by the Turkish authorities during the firstthree months of the state of emergency – extended for a further three months on19 October - endanger the general principles of rule of law and human rightssafeguards.

Ayla Akat a leading womanhuman rights defender and Kurdish political activist in Turkey, who also servedas an elected Member of Parliament between 2007 and 2015, wastaken into custody on 26 October in Diyarbakir/Amed. Partners in Diyarbakır informed the WHRDIC thatduring her arrest, Ayla was dragged across the floor, physically abused andharassed. The police also raided her house and office and confiscated allequipment pertaining to her human rights work, including laptops. Ayla has been moved to Kandıra Prison, anF-type (high security) prison over a thousand kilometers from her home. Akatwas charged with “being a member of a terrorist organization” on 31 October 2016.

Since thebreakdown of the ceasefire between the Turkish State and the PKK, thosespeaking out on abuses in the SouthEast of the country have faced threats,intimidation, persecution and sometimes imprisonment Kurdish women human rights defenders areamongst those bearing the brunt of the State crackdown. .

On 15-16 July2016, a faction of the military in Turkey attempted a coup d’état. At least 260citizens and security personnel were killed during a night of violence in theclashes. The government of Turkey declared a state of emergency following theattempted coup, which is now being used as an excuse to curb civic freedoms,target human rights defenders and suppress dissent.

Ayla’s detention follows a wave of arrests targeting Kurdishactivists in Turkey. Co-mayors of Diyarbakır, Gültan Kışanak and Fırat Anlı,were also imprisoned on terrorism charges on 30 October, having beentaken into custody on 25 October. Gültan Kışanakis a symbolic figure of the Kurdish women's movement and after the lastmilitary coup in September 1980 experienced the most brutal forms of threats, restrictions and violence, includingtorture and sexual assault in prison. Other arrestsinclude that of renowned novelist, columnist and human rights activist Aslı Erdoğan and writer andlinguist Necmiye Alpay.

On 3 November2014, twelve deputies from the Democracy Party (HDP) including party’s co chair and WHRD FigenYüksekdağ were detained and accused of“making propaganda for a terrorist organization”, a provision routinely used tosuppress independent voices in Turkey. Additionally, on 11 November 2015, the Ministry of Interior announced itsuspended activities of 370 associations, 9 of which are grassroots women’srights organizations including Adıyaman Women Life Association, Anka Women Research Association, BursaPanayır Women Solidarity Association, Ceren Women Association, Gökkuşağı WomenAssociation, Kongreya Jinen Azad (Free Women Congress), Muş Women Association,Selis Women Association and Van Women Association. All associations are a vitalpart of the gender struggle in Turkey.

AKurdish woman, who prefers to remain anonymous, said “It must be emphasized that the pioneering role that women play in thisprocess has been perceived as a threat by the patriarchal state.” There is nodoubt, Ayla, Gültan, Figen and other Kurdish women human rights defenders are vitalmembers of a global community who work peacefully and committedly for rights,justice and equality.

The Women HumanRights Defenders International Coalition (WHRDIC), express our solidarity withthe Kurdish women human rights defenders and their allies in their efforts toensure gender and the full enjoyment of human rights in the country. The WHRDIC calls for the: release of Ayla Akat as well as, Gültan Kışanak, Aslı Erdoğan, Figen Yüksekdağ andother imprisoned human rights defenders. We further demand that the Turkishauthorities lift all restrictions targeting women human rights defenders andtheir organizations in Turkey.

WHRDIC is a global network which provides solidarity and support to womenhuman rights defenders worldwide.