Diyarbakır Metropolitan Municipality organised a Cycling Tour event as part of activities marking 25 November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. Joining the ride and pedalling against violence, Co-Mayor Serra Bucak said that a free society is only possible with free women, adding: “Today, we will pedal for a life without femicide.”

The Cycling Tour was organised by the Department of Women and Family Services and the Department of Climate Change and Zero Waste, in cooperation with the Amed Women’s Cycling Group, within the campaign “Our word is not over for a life free from violence and for freedom—we will stop violence together.” Held under the slogan “We are all pedalling together for a life free from violence”, the event brought women together at Koşuyolu Park in Bağlar district. Alongside Co-Mayor Bucak, the tour was attended by members of the Metropolitan Municipal Council, co-mayors of district municipalities, Deputy Secretary General Zerin Türk, department heads and many women.

Co-Mayor Bucak: Amed will be a women’s city

Speaking before the event, Co-Mayor Serra Bucak referred to the Municipality’s work to combat violence against women, noting that for the past two weeks—within the scope of 25 November activities—they have been out in public spaces, neighbourhoods and villages. Stating that they have been carrying out training and awareness-raising activities with women, Bucak said:

“We said that Amed will become a women’s city. As Amed moves towards becoming a women’s city, there is one common purpose behind all the activities we have been carrying out for the past two weeks to combat violence against women. This is why our public transport buses carry banners and flags, why we have billboards, and why a range of women’s organisations across the city have come together to organise events collectively. The aim is a single one: to stop violence against women, to stop the killing of women, and to underline once again that violence against women has no place in an equal and libertarian society.”

‘A Free Society Is Only Possible with Free Women’

Recalling that they watched yesterday’s match between the Amedspor and Trabzonspor women’s teams at the stadium, Co-Mayor Serra Bucak said:

“We said this at the stadium: a free society is only possible with free women and free ideas. Together, we will create cities where women feel free, safe, equal and treated with justice. Yesterday, from the stadium, we said ‘make the pass’ to end violence against women. Today, we will pedal with the message that we will stop violence against women together. I want to say once again that we stand against violence towards women, and that we condemn femicide.

Today, we will also pedal for women like Rojin—women whose perpetrators are known, yet are not pursued as they should be. We will pedal for women like Gülistan—whose perpetrators are known, yet remain at large. We will once again raise our demand for freedom for Rojin, freedom for Gülistan, and for justice and the right to seek accountability. Today, we will pedal for a life without femicide.”

Cycling tour

Following the speech, women got on their bicycles and cycled from Koşuyolu Park to Dağkapı Square. The event, marked by colourful scenes, ended at Dağkapı Square.