'Those in uniform have become actors of a special war'

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  • 13:56 22 October 2023
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WAN - Drawing attention that although governments change, special war policies do not change, Women's rights activist Sevim Çiçek said: "Turkish soldiers and police have become actors of these policies by using their uniforms."
 
In the cities of Kurdistan, young people and women are the targets of special war policies. While they are trying to drag young people and women into the swamp of prostitution and drugs, on the other hand, they are trying to turn them into agents. The primary executors of these practices are soldiers and police. In Wan, the harassment of two women in a restaurant by 6 drunk specialist sergeants was the last link of these policies. It is not known whether any action has been taken against the specialist sergeants who were detained following the anger of the city residents. Women's rights activist Sevim Çiçek evaluated the special war policies carried out in Kurdistan.
 
'THE GOVERNMENT HAS CHANGED, POLITICS HAVE NOT CHANGED'
 
Stating that although the governments have changed, the policies have not changed, Çiçek said: "There has been a deepening environment of violence and special war policies in Kurdistan and Turkey for years. Special war policies in the region are intended to be carried out through the female body. The main practices are violence against women, harassment, rape, prostitution and substance addiction."
 
ACTORS OF THE SPECIAL WAR
 
Adding that soldiers and police officers have become actors of special war policies in the Kurdistan region by using their uniforms, Çiçek said: “There have been many news stories about women being dragged into prostitution by law enforcement officers, village guards and specialist sergeants. But there is no effective, transparent investigation into these situations. There is also an accusation against all segments of society who want to speak out about these policies. They want to act as if such an action never existed. The village guards, law enforcement and security forces are committing a crime, and people who want to speak about this crime are treated with an approach such as 'they are criticizing our police'. This situation is getting deeper every day, encouraged by these policies of impunity."
 
'THE DARKNESS WITH IMPUNITY'
 
Stating that the crimes committed by soldiers and police officers were left unpunished, Çiçek said: "Even though we say 'The state is committing a crime or the law enforcement is committing a crime,' there is a mentality that does not give up committing this crime and a reality of power that does not give up on whitewashing the crime. The main reason why women are targeted in the government's war policies is that this struggle is growing and women are sure that they will shatter this darkness. Law No. 6284, the Istanbul Convention, the right to alimony, the civil law, these were women's achievements, but the current government and its partners are again following a policy targeting women's achievements. By targeting these gains, they are dragging the country into even more darkness."
 
MA / Ruken Polat