‘Me too’ exposes the system as well, says HDP’s Ersoy

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Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) İstanbul MP Oya Ersoy addressed the lawmakers at the General Assembly of the Parliament today (December 17).

Talking about a recent "me too" movement of women who have been exposing the perpetrators of male violence and harassment in Turkey, Ersoy has said, "We, women, have seen and shown that we will not stay silent in the face of violence, harassment and rape that we are subjected to and we will keep struggling by getting strength from one another." 

CLICK - 'May You Lose Sleep,' say women

Ersoy has also referred to the slogan "May you lose sleep" (Uykuların kaçsın in Tr.) implying that the men who sexually assaulted women should worry about when their harassment would be revealed:

"Those who consider harassment to be legitimate, those who are whitewashed of rape, those who say, 'Nothing will happen to me, anyway' as they get strength from the male state order, male judiciary and men's solidarity and those who are rewarded with impunity... 

"Your turn will also come one day.

"Yes, just as there are now those who have been losing sleep, others will also lose sleep in the future following this ongoing women's solidarity.

'We will never stay silent'

"If women had trust in justice in this country, if offenders of rape and harassment were penalized, İpek Er, who committed suicide after being sexually assaulted by Specialized Sergeant Musa Orhan, would be alive today, just like Cansel Buse Kınalı, who committed suicide because she was raped by her teacher at the age of 18; just like Aysu Altay, who committed suicide because she was raped by her elder brother at 22; just like Ahmet Emre Yıldız, who had been abused by his relative from 9 to 17 years of age and could not make his voice heard until he committed suicide..."

HDP MP Ersoy has also referred to the policies of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) within this context. Defining the AKP policies as "misogynist," Ersoy has emphasized that women will not stay silent in the face of the party's actions ranging from attempting to ban abortion to grant amnesty to rape offenders through marriage, from usurpation of the right of alimony to the attempted withdrawal from İstanbul Convention.

"We will never stay silent in the face of all these statements and practices that attempt to leave women defenseless, alone and hopeless and reinforce male dominance," the MP has underlined further.

"Yes, women have started this movement of exposure so that no women will experience the harassment, rape and abuse that they faced," Ersoy has said and added, "Who is revealed is not only individual men, but a system as well. We once again say it from here: We will keep on struggling to create a country where 'women's statement is primary', rape and harassment are considered a crime without any 'but's and perpetrators are not protected."

'We will make you enforce İstanbul Convention'

Concluding her remarks, Ersoy has said, "I will once again express the words and requests of the women's movement from here":

"In the event of rape and harassment, the statement of the women is primary, men have the obligation to prove ... All women subjected to harassment and violence must be provided with legal and psychological support; sexual violence crisis centers must be opened.

"We cannot tolerate even a single word about the abolishment of the İstanbul Convention. It cannot remain on paper, it needs to be implemented. We will ensure that the Convention will be implemented.

"I am making a call to all women who have or have not raised their voices on social media. You are not alone, we are strong together." (DŞ/SD)