Prosecutor intervenes in Turkey to close down a feminist organization for “immoral activities”

An Istanbul prosecutor has called for the closure of a women’s rights group, citing “Activities against law and morals”stated today to the French Agency an NGO official.

“Yesterday we received a notice announcing the opening of a lawsuit for the dissolution of our association for activities against the law and morals”“We Will Stop Feminicide” secretary general Fidan Ataselim told AFP.

Very active in defending women’s rights, the union had also organized numerous demonstrations for Turkey’s stay in the Istanbul Convention, an international treaty laying down rules for combating gender-based violence, a treaty from which the country withdrew. 2021.

For Fidan Ataselim, the struggle of her movement against the withdrawal from the Convention, as well as her activities for documenting and monitoring the murders, made the Turkish authorities hostile to the union.

“We believe that the commencement of the trial is part of a policy of deterrence against the activities we have been carrying out for twelve years.”said Ataselim.

The lawsuit alleges that the members of the union accused the members of the union of “destroying the family under the guise of defending women’s rights” and even of “insulting the president”, that they published reports of murders or called on politicians to act against the impunity of perpetrators of gender-based violence.

These allegations, which are sent to the Turkish presidency via a website to collect requests and complaints from citizens, use “the terminology of critics of the Istanbul Convention,” Ataselim added.

The Turkish government had justified its decision to abandon the Convention, accusing it of encouraging homosexuality and threatening the traditional family structure.

According to the union, 280 women were killed in 2021, and another 217 died under suspicious circumstances, including those presented as suicides.

The date of the first hearing of the action against the union is still unknown.

“They will not be able to sabotage our fight. Our determination has increased more “said Ataselim.

The union called for demonstrations in several Turkish cities over the weekend against the threat of closure.

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