Dear Minister; No, 'we do not tolerate' male violence

* Photo: csgorselarsiv

Click to read the article in Turkish

Derya Yanık, the Minister of Family and Social Services, defined the increasing male violence during the pandemic period as "tolerable" at the meeting of the Parliamentary Investigation Commission Determining the Causes of Violence Against Women. It is obvious how vital the İstanbul Convention is in the country of a minister who finds violence "tolerable."

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The İstanbul Convention sees the state as responsible for male violence and says that the state is responsible for its solution. That is exactly the opposite of what Minister Derya Yanık has said.

Undoubtedly, evaluating Yanık's discourse only in the context of the İstanbul Convention would be incomplete. Let me explain with a concrete example how this and similar discourses are reflected in practice.

Owner of a company that manages commercial relations between international brands, N.E.'s struggle for justice in Turkey proves how the judiciary finds male crimes "tolerable."

N.E. and Mehmet E., a former Mayor of Urfa Eyyübiye from the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), meet on social media.

First, they come together for work, then an emotional relationship begins between them. However, in the process, N.E. becomes uncomfortable with Mehmet E.'s behavior and wants to break up.

Commission for work is also not paid

Meanwhile, their business relations continue. Through N.E.'s company, Mehmet E. sends goods to a foreign country. Mehmet E. does not pay the commission fee for this transaction to N.E.

Mehmet E. "sexually assaults" N.E. at a hotel that they meet in October 2020. N.E. flees back to England and files a criminal complaint to the Urfa Chief Public Prosecutor's Office through her lawyers in Turkey.

This time, another dimension of violence begins. Mehmet E. systematically threatens to kill N.E. and her child through social media and texts.

What does the judiciary do?

England has now taken N.E. and her son under protection. The house where the woman and her child live, for whom a protection order has been issued, is changed periodically. Her address is not shared with anyone in any way. 

In other words, even the possibility of violence by men in Turkey is not "tolerated" in England.

Social workers regularly keep up with both N.E. and her son and provide them with psychological support.

So, what do you think happens when N.E. brings allegations such as "insult" and "death threats" to the judiciary other than "sexual assault"?

Nothing. Yes, nothing.

No response has been made to  Human Rights Association (İHD) Co-Chair Eren Keskin's many criminal complaints made to the Urfa Public Prosecutor's Office with the relevant reports and photographs for Mehmet E.'s trial. Not a single indictment has been prepared so far.

Prosecutor calls Mehmet E. and when asked about the allegations, Mehmet E. denies all of them and blames the woman.

As a result, while Mehmet E. walks freely in Turkey, N.E. is forced to live in England with the worry of "I could be killed at any moment."

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Of course, Mehmet E. does not just stand around. As if his actions were not enough, he is trying to erase the "sexual assault" news about him by saying "the case has been dropped" and provides false information. The judiciary remains silent to all this, "tolerates" as the Minister says.

We, women, never accept and tolerate this attitude and mentality.

We do not tolerate the assistance mechanisms used by women escaping from male violence to ignore the violence!

We also do not tolerate the prosecutors not taking action on the crimes of masculinity!

Dear Minister, violence cannot be tolerated!

Wishing for an equal and fair new week without violence...

(EMK/DCE/SD)