Mardin Village Attack

"When a woman’s father’s brother’s son is single and she is married to someone else, this can lead to violence or murder.”

Nebahat Akkoç, president of the Women’s Centre Association (KAMER), commented on the massacre in a village in Mardin, southeastern Turkey, where 44 people were killed during an engagement celebration on Monday evening (4 May).

She added, “I can count 50 people who were killed for similar reasons in the last year. This is a question of mentality.”

A question of gender

“The issue is gender, and denial does not solve anything,” said Akkoç. She believed that “this has to be accepted, the situation in Turkey has to be discussed and examined, and efforts need to be made to act quickly.”

“The village guard system is still waiting to be dealt with. There is a group of people in the region who are armed and who sometimes use these arms. This is a great danger.”

She added, however, that even if the village guard system were abolished immediately, people still had too many weapons.

Many other problems exacerbate violence

“On the other hand, although the issue is based on gender, there are also poverty, lack of education, migration and the violence of the last years…These are all reasons for an increase in violence. As long as these problems are not solved, violence becomes increasinly legitimised in the area.”

“When there are single deaths, they do not attract attention. However, if you add all the ‘honour’ killings up, a serious number emerges.”

In order to reduce and prevent such events, she wants the Prime Ministerial Office to develop a budget. She also calls for support for work in villages.

“For instance, the number of illiterate people is so high in rural areas, it is over 90 percent among women.”

“Although we have worked in the area for years, we cannot carry out projects in the villages. It is vital that this be facilitated.” (BÇ/AG)