On 15 June, Eren Keskin, vice-chairperson of the IHD, Kiraz Birici, chairperson of the IHD-Istanbul, and M. Toprak, chairperson of the Democratic People’s Party (DEHAP) in Istanbul read a press statement in the rooms of the Human Rights Association (IHD) in Istanbul.

It was reported that Gülbahar Gündüz, the head of the women’s department of DEHAP in Istanbul, was kidnapped by 4 plain-clothes policemen, blindfolded, tormented and raped. Gündüz, who had burns from cigarettes stubbed out on her face, and bruises on her body, described in detail what she had to suffer. After nearly eight hours of torture, she was thrown out of a moving car in the vicinity of her home.

Gülbahar Gündüz also pointed out that she had already been kidnapped and arrested before 8 March, the international working women’s day. At that time she was threatened to make her give up her political activities. While describing the events, Gülbahar could not restrain her tears because of the serious trauma she had experienced. Almost 100 women present in the room all felt with her. Many of them tried to keep their tears back. As if the tears unshed would make the fury in their hearts more steeled, just like water hardening steel.

This attack is directed against all oppressed and exploited people; in particular it is an attack on us women workers and working women. Still more is it directed against the Kurdish women who face up to their triple oppression, and revolt against it. It is the goal of the state to bring the people not to fight against injustices anymore, but capitulate mentally and physically before the system. Otherwise 4 persons who call themselves policemen would not kidnap a woman in broad daylight, torment, rape, and throw her out of a moving car on the wayside as a deterrent. Otherwise the state would not attempt to prevent press statements condemning this barbaric action and reporting it to the authorities from being read with all possible provocations.

Four days after this attack, the Women’s Department of the DEHAP together with the Istanbul Women’s Platform and some other women’s organizations published a press statement and reported the incident to the authorities. As the press statement was read, the police present behaved in a provocative, hostile, and aggressive manner. This state does not tolerate even a press statement. Those who dream of this state enacting “adaptation laws” in order to be admitted into the EU, and in this way being democratized should wake up out of their dreams and wage the fight for democratic rights, subordinating it to the fight to overthrow the fascist system.

With all these mean and barbaric attacks, the state cannot bring women workers and working women suffering under triple oppression to capitulate.

Gülbahar’s announcement to continue the fight now even more intensely, is the only correct answer.

From hundreds of women sexually attacked and raped under torture and during their arrest, only a few go before the public and denounce them. The main reason is unequivocally the predominant ideology and culture of the ruling classes in society.

When raped women keep silent about it, the rapists feel all the more secure. After her release, Gülbahar immediately decided to make it public and reported, with head held high, what happened to her. We congratulate her to this courageous step challenging the state and express our solidarity with her.

No attack will dissuade us women workers, working and Kurdish women from our fight for democracy and freedom! Don’t keep silent, bring them to account!

The account with the barbaric male-chauvinist system will sooner or later be settled with the revolution!

June 2003

“Call for a New World”, Nr 69, July 2003