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Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) Ankara MP Filiz Kerestecioğlu has submitted a parliamentary question regarding the right to vote of women who live in women's shelters across Turkey.
Addressing Minister of Family, Labor and Social Services Zehra Zümrüt Selçuk, Kerestecioğlu has asked, "How many women were supported by 144 women's shelters across Turkey as of March 31, 2019 and how many of these women could vote in March 31 local elections?"
Speaking to bianet, Canan Güllü, the Chair of Women Associations Federation, previously stated that the number of women who could not vote for that reason was estimated to be 3 thousand 860.
In her parliamentary question, Kerestecioğlu has indicated,
"For the last five years, the society of Turkey has gone to the polls for seven times and before every election, human rights organizations, especially the ones defending women's rights, appealed to the Ministry of Family, Labor and Social Services, the Supreme Election Council (YSK) and other related authorities and requested that necessary legal regulations be introduced to end the violation of rights faced by women.
"Despite this years-long struggle, in March 31 local elections as well, women were forced to choose between their security of life and their right to vote and to be elected and, most probably, thousands of them opted for the first."
Kerestecioğlu has addressed a series of questions to Minister of Family, Labor and Social Services Selçuk, including the following: