
Electronic bracelets turned into a tool of violence 

2021-04-01 11:16:11


	ISTANBUL - Electronic bracelets, which have been put into practice within the scope of Law No 6284 which takes the Istanbul Convention as a reference, have recently turned into a means of punishing women and opponents, not the male perpetrators of violence. Lawyer Eylem Arzu Kayaoğlu said that the practice has turned into a tool of violence.

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	As a deterrent to violence against women, usage of electronic bracelets was put into effect with a joint protocol signed between the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Interior, and the Ministry of Family, Labor and Social Services. While the number of pilot provinces that used electronic bracelets increased to 15 in 2019, this application was activated in 81 provinces with the circular issued under Law No 6284 in 2020.

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	Despite the 2 thousand 254 femicides from 2015 to 2020, it has been used only in 201 cases so far. The government said they couldn't use this judicial control measure, because it costed a lot. As a precaution against violence and femicide, these electronic bracelets, which should be placed on the ankles of the perpetrators, were placed on the ankles of those who struggle for democratic rights and freedom.

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	Lawyer Eylem Arzu Kayaoğlu, Istanbul Branch Co-chair of the Association of Lawyers for Freedom (ÖHD) evaluated the judicial control measure.

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	GOOD NEWS&nbsp;

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	Reminding that the electronic bracelets, which was introduced 6 years ago to prevent male violence, was introduced to the public as "good news", Kayaoğlu stated that at the current stage, with the decision to withdraw from the Istanbul Convention, the electronic bracelet was placed on the ankles of the opponents unlawfully. Kayaoğlu said: "The prohibitions imposed by the government policies due to certain actions that are not even considered as a crime by the Constitution and international conventions are unacceptable. They placed all of these electronic bracelets on students who participated in marches to exercise their democratic rights, women who opposed violence and all kinds of discrimination, and opposition politicians who sang, shouted slogans, and distributed leaflets. The government does not even enforce the constitution, international conventions, the European Court of Human Rights, or the Constitutional Court's decisions. We can only fight back within the law."

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	ELECTRONIC BRACELETS TO OPPONENTS

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	Stating that it is the government's work to make certain tools functional, Kayaoğlu said that the main duty of the state is to ensure the life safety of the society. Underlining that dissenter opinions are targeted, Kayaoğlu said: "Instead of consolidating its base through them and acting with the concern of maintaining its power, it should give priority to basic human rights." Kayaoğlu emphasized that the electronic bracelet, which is an important and effective tool in preventing all kinds of violence against women and children, should be used appropriately.

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	WOMEN ARE TARGETED

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	Stating that electronic bracelets do not work as a precaution alone, Kayaoğlu stated that discriminatory and hostile discourses should also be abondoned. Kayaoğlu said: "Recently, from female students to female politicians, women from all walks of life took to the street. This caused women to be the group, who judicial control provisions such as house arrest are applied the most. Of course, it is unacceptable that women who managed to took to the streets by paying various prices throughout their lives and who steered politics are now the target of the legals system by the government and imprisoned in houses on grounds of 'enforcing the law'. Women will take back their rights by fighting together, as it has been until today. Because the rights are not given, they are won."

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