WOMEN’S ALLIANCE NEWS BRIEFING
https://peaceinkurdistancampaign.com/activities/womens-alliance-for-kurdistan-iraq-and-syria/
IN MEMORY OF SAKINE CANSIZ, FIDAN DOGAN AND LEYLA SAYLEMEZ
7 January 2021
“We salute and honour the memory of Sakine, Fidan and Leyla and their example will continue to inspire our efforts for peace and justice for the Kurdish people. In our collective memory and that of all Kurdish patriots they will live on.”
TJK-E launches ‘100 reason to Prosecute the Dictator’ campaign
25 November 2020
The Kurdish Women’s Movement in Europe (Tevgera Jinên Kurd li Ewropayê, TJK-E) has launched the ‘100 reasons to prosecute the dictator’ today, International Day against Violence against Women.
https://anfenglish.com/women/tjk-e-launches-100-reason-to-prosecute-the-dictator-campaign-48204
“The dictator must be brought to justice”
12 December 2020/ANF English
Actions have taken place in Belgium, the UK, Germany, Switzerland, Sweden and Denmark as part of the “100 Reasons to prosecute the dictator” campaign. The Kurdish women’s movement wants to bring “dictator Erdogan” to justice.
https://anfenglishmobile.com/women/the-dictator-must-be-brought-to-justice-48593
“100 Reasons” campaign in Melbourne
12 December 2020/ANF English
The “100 Reasons to Prosecute the Dictator” campaign launched by the Kurdish Women’s Movement in Europe (TJK-E) on November 25 is being waged around the globe. In Melbourne, Australia, a rally has taken place to present the campaign and collect signatures.
https://anfenglishmobile.com/women/100-reasons-campaign-in-melbourne-48609
Janet Biehl tells of her involvement in solidarity with Kurds
6 January 2021
Dr. Jeff Miley of Peace in Kurdistan interviewed author and artist Janet Biehl about her involvement in solidarity with the Kurdish Freedom Movement, including her recent engagement with the “100 Reasons” campaign.
https://anfenglish.com/news/janet-biehl-tells-of-her-involvement-in-solidarity-with-kurds-49147
KCK statement on the arrest of MP Leyla Güven
24 December 2020
The arrest of Leyla Güven, co-chair of the DTK (Democratic Society Congress) and MP for the Hakkari district, has once again exposed the reality of the Turkish state in all its clarity.
https://www.peaceinkurdistancampaign.com/kck-statement-on-the-arrest-of-mp-leyla-guven/
OPEN LETTER TO FCO REF. THE JAILING OF LEYLA GUVEN
23 December 2020
Dear Foreign Secretary,
We are writing to you to express our grave concern over the jailing of former Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) MP Leyla Guven who was sentenced to 22 years and three months in prison by a Turkish court on Monday 21 December.
https://www.peaceinkurdistancampaign.com/open-letter-to-fco-ref-the-jailing-of-leyla-guven/
“Turkey aims to undermine will of free organized woman by arresting Guven”
6 January 2020/Hawar News
The coordinator of the Star Congress Rayhan Luqo explained that the Turkish state targets the will of the woman in the person of Leyla Guven, calling on all women to raise the pace of struggle and resistance in the face of authoritarian mentality conspiring against women.
Activist faces a prison sentence of up to 15 years
14 December 2020/ANF English
The third hearing of the case opened against Free Women’s Movement (Tevgera Jinên Azad, TJA) activist Gülcihan Şimşek with the allegation of “being a member of a terrorist organization” was held at Diyarbakır 11th Heavy Penal Court on Monday. Şimşek, who was released after being arrested within the scope of the Rosa Women’s Association investigation which still continues, was present at the hearing.
https://anfenglishmobile.com/women/tja-activist-faces-a-prison-sentence-of-up-to-15-years-48656
Two more women murdered in Turkey
12 December 2020
The We Will Stop Femicide Platform (KCDP) announced that 29 women were killed in Turkey in November and 10 women died in suspicious circumstances.
In November, at least 6 women were abused and raped, 2 children were killed, 3 children died in suspicious circumstances, while 5 children were subjected to sexual abuse, rape and 2 children to violence.
https://anfenglishmobile.com/women/two-more-women-murdered-in-turkey-48611
Online meeting today addresses violence against women in Turkey
15 December 2020/ANF English
An online talk titled “Violence Against Women in Turkey” with Pat Heron, Selma Atabey, Mary Davis, and moderated by Christine Blower will be taking place today at 7 GMT.
The event is co-sponsored and hosted by Centre for Kurdish Progress, Peace in Kurdistan Campaign and Kurdish Peoples’ Assembly UK.
Summary of proceedings against HDP Amed MP Güzel
12 December 2020/ANF English
A summary of proceedings was opened against Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) Amed Deputy Semra Güzel for the cards she sent to the prisoners as part of the 8 March International Women’s Day celebration.
Güzel was charged with “terrorist organization propaganda” on the grounds that the cards she sent to women prisoners in Izmir Closed Prison “instigated prisoners”.
https://anfenglishmobile.com/women/summary-of-procedure-against-hdp-amed-mp-guzel-48597
Lawyer Keskin: Impunity is behind the increase of sexual violence
9 December 2020/ANF English
One of the main reasons for the increasing sexual violence against women and children, especially in Kurdistan, is impunity, explains co-chair of the IHD human rights organization, Eren Keskin.
“The State protects perpetrators of rape”
8 December 2020/ANF English
Ölker stated that the AKP and MHP adopted a political attitude to rape and sexual abuse, saying: “The specialist sergeant who raped İpek Er and caused her death was rewarded with impunity by a dirty mindset. Same policy was followed in the case of a special operations police officer B.K. The punishment for harassment and rape is eliminated in a legal context in Kurdish provinces.”
https://anfenglishmobile.com/women/the-state-protects-perpetrators-of-rape-48512
Torturing Kurdish women deemed legal by Turkish-backed mercenaries in Syria, survivor says
2 November 2020/Morning Star
TORTURING Kurdish women is deemed “halal” (lawful) by Turkish-backed jihadist groups in northern Syria, a survivor of one of the terrorists’ camps in Afrin said today.
Telegraph reveals a plot by MIT to assassinate Kurdish politicians in Austria
17 December 2020/ANHA news
British newspaper “Telegraph” confirmed that a Turkish intelligence agent surrendered himself to the Austrian authorities, and admitted that he had received orders from Ankara to assassinate a prominent Kurdish politician.
Two women killed in Turkey; another arrested in Bakur
7 January 2021
Two women were killed in the Turkish city of Istanbul, while the authorities arrested a Kurdish woman in Jazir district of the state of Şirnak in northern Kurdistan (Bakur), according to the Euphrates News Agency.
https://www.hawarnews.com/en/haber/two-women-killed-in-turkey-another-arrested-in-bakur-h22061.html
VIDEOS
(Video) Interview with Janet Biehl about her Work in Solidarity with the Kurdish Movement
JANUARY 2, 2021 TURKEY, VIDEO, WOMEN’S ALLIANCE FOR KURDISTAN IN IRAQ AND SYRIA EDIT”“WOMEN LEAD THE RESISTANCE AGAINST ERDOGAN’S REGIME” – CLARE BAKER”
DECEMBER 29, 2020 VIDEO, WOMEN’S ALLIANCE FOR KURDISTAN IN IRAQ AND SYRIA “‘TURKEY IS STILL BEING RULED BY AN AUTOCRATIC DICTATOR’ – INTERVIEW WITH JULIE WARD”
Peace in Kurdistan
Campaign for a political solution of the Kurdish Question
Email: estella@gn.apc.org
https://www.peaceinkurdistancampaign.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/peaceinkurdistan1/
Contacts Estella Schmid: 07846 666 804 & Melanie Gingell: 07572 430903
Patrons: John Austin, Baroness Blower of Starch Green, former GS NUT, Prof Bill Bowring, Julie Christie, Noam Chomsky, Jeremy Corbyn MP, Prof Mary Davis, Lord Dholakia, Simon Dubbins, UNITE International Director, Jill Evans, former MEP, Desmond Fernandes, Lindsey German, Convenor STWC, Melanie Gingell, Christopher Gingell, Prof Dr. Michael Gunter, Secretary-General, EU Turkey Civic Commission (EUTCC), Rahila Gupta, journalist, Nick Hildyard, policy advisor, Dafydd Iwan, Former President Plaid Cymru, James Kelman, Bruce Kent, Jean Lambert, former MEP, Dr Les Levidow, Open University, Elfyn Llwyd, John McDonnell MP; Aonghas MacNeacail, Scottish Gaelic poet, Mike Mansfield QC, David Morgan, journalist, Doug Nicholls, General Secretary, GFTU, Dr. Jessica Ayesha Northey, Sinn Fein MLA Conor Murphy, Dr Thomas Jeffrey Miley, Kate Osamor MP, Margaret Owen OBE, Ali Gul Ozbek, Former Councillor and Mayor of Haringey; Gareth Peirce, Dr Felix Padel, Maxine Peake, actor, Dr Thomas Phillips, Liverpool John Moores University, Trevor Rayne, writer, Joe Ryan, Tony Simpson, Bertrand Russell Peace Foundation, Stephen Smellie, PIK Trade Union Liaison Officer, Jonathan Steele, journalist, Steve Sweeney, journalist, Gianni Tognoni, General Secretary Permanent People’s Tribunal, Dr Tove Skutnabb-Kangas, Dr Federico Venturini, Associate Researcher, University of Udine, Italy; Dr Tom Wakeford, Dr Derek Wall, Julie Ward, former MEP, Kariane Westrheim, Chair, EU Turkey Civic Commission (EUTCC); Hywel Williams MP.