Las Tesis Investigation Against Women in İzmir

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After women protested male violence with a Las Tesis dance performance in İzmir on December 15, a decision has been issued to summon 25 women to depose as part of an investigation into their Las Tesis protest.

As reported by daily Evrensel yesterday (December 16), while nine women were taken to the security directorate, four of the nine women have been released after medical health checks. The remaining five women will also be reportedly released after the related formalities are completed.

Speaking to Evrensel, Secretary of İzmir Bar Association Perihan Çağrışım Kayadelen has indicated that there is a list of 25 women, but the bar assoication is not shown the list. Kayadelen has also stated that the women will be released after their deposition.

Taken to the security directorate, the women are facing the possible charges of "violating the Law 2911 on Meetings and Demonstrations and degrading the State of the Republic of Turkey and Institutions and Bodies of the State as per the Article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code (TCK)."

Las Tesis protest at the Parliament

Taking the floor while the budget of the Ministry of Interior was discussed at the Parliament on December 14, main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) İstanbul MP Sera Kadıgil said,

"There is a dance that started in Chile and performed in all parts of the world to draw attention to violence against women. The dance is called Las Tesis.

"Thanks to you, Turkey has become the only country where one has to have immunity to stage this protest. Now, we, as women MPs, have a word to say to you in the name of all women subjected to violence and killed."

After she uttered those remarks, the MPs read out the lyrics of the song. MPs of the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) also supported the protest.

Minister Soylu: Despite the law and Constitution...

As reported by the state-run Anadolu Agency (AA), Minister of Interior Süleyman Soylu has denounced the Las Tesis protest of CHP MPs.

Referring to the lyrics of the song "You are the rapist, you are the killer; the police, judges, state and the president", Minister Soylu has said,

"Police killed two women [in Chile]. That was why it started there. So, it did not arise for reasons that you [CHP Group] mentioned. There is no such thing in Germany, but you can make whatever you want out of it. But, it does not mean that you can call the police, judges, state and the President in Turkey as 'rapists' and 'killers'.

"If this problem will be solved by saying these, let the Parliament hear that. If this Parliament says that 'they can continue saying these', then, I am the Minister of Interior and I will use my broadest rights despite the law and despite the Constitution." (EKN/SD)