In a statement on femicide, the Women’s Assembly of the Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) called on men across the city to “take a stand together”. The men supporting the call, including the Metropolitan Municipality Co-Mayor, MPs, and representatives of political parties and civil society organisations, made a statement outside the DEM Party’s provincial headquarters. Metropolitan Municipality Co-Mayor Emin Ay also joined the statement, expressing his support for the women’s call.

‘Femicide Is Political’

Speaking at the statement, DEM Party Diyarbakır MP Serhat Eren recalled the cases of femicide in the city over the past month and said that the women had been killed by people close to them. Eren said that women had been resisting male violence for years in the streets, squares, Parliament, municipalities, homes and workplaces, and continued:

“Women have been saying for years that femicide is political and that the social order that produces this violence must change. Just a few hours ago, they came together for Ayfer. They made their voices heard. They also addressed us, men, about male violence, male dominance and our responsibility. We heard what they had to say. We received the message.”

Following the statement, a call was made to join the march from the Bağlar District Office to Karanfil Park at 5.00 pm on 30 September.