In Istanbul, just like every year, women took to the streets this February 14th with the slogan, “No equality, no love.”
While we hear news of suspicious women’s deaths in this region every day, don’t expect us to fall for your rosy advertisements and Valentine’s Day.”
In Istanbul, just like every year, women took to the streets this 14th of February with the slogan “No equality, no love.”
According to a report by Nur Kaya from Bianet, women and members of the LGBTI+ community gathered in Kadıköy Khalkedon Square in response to the call from Women Together Strong. They held banners with slogans such as “Let your violent love be your sacred family” and “There is massacre behind the gold.”
In addition to protesting Valentine’s Day on February 14th, the demonstration also addressed the collapse in the heap leach area of the Çöpler Gold Mine operated by Anagold Mining in the İliç district of Erzincan.
“This government and this system are killing us too”
In a statement read on behalf of Women Together Strong, attention was drawn to the events at the İliç gold mine:
“Just like every year on February 14th, today we intended to gather to voice our rebellion against violent relationships and the suffocating confines of so-called ‘sacred’ families. However, yesterday in Erzincan, we received news that millions of tons of toxic soil collapsed at the Çöpler Gold Mine, leaving 9 workers trapped underneath. Despite previous cyanide leaks and repeated expert warnings urging its closure, the mine, which workers have repeatedly flagged as unsafe, remains operational. Anagold Mining, the company responsible, has not faced license revocation, and to exacerbate matters, while we face increasing poverty, Anagold’s tax debts have been absolved.”
The statement noted that over 50% of the gold mined globally is used in the jewelry industry, stating, “While the owners of gold mines that kill miners and leave irreversible damage to nature profit, every Valentine’s Day, televisions, billboards, and advertisements for gold and jewelry fill the airwaves. This government and this system are killing workers, women, and nature every day, and labeling it fate, calling it destiny.”
“Don’t expect us to fall for your Valentine’s Day”
In the statement, it was reminded that the lifeless body of 26-year-old Rojvelat Kızmaz, a university friend of Gülistan Doku, who was lost and whose fate is still unknown since January 5, 2020, in Dersim, was found a few days ago at the Hasankeyf Dam. It was said as follows:
“The necessary search and rescue efforts for Rojvelat began days after his disappearance, only under public pressure. While we hear news of suspicious women’s deaths in this region every day, don’t expect us to fall for your rosy advertisements and Valentine’s Day.”
“We want life”
In the statement, it was noted that psychological, sexual, physical, and economic violence are legitimized under the guise of love. The statement expressed, “Many women face oppressive restrictions from their partners or husbands. We know that we are not condemned to these relationships, and our cry of ‘No equality, no love.”
The women concluded the statement by stating, “Listen up, your male judgments, your male-dominated media, your male-centric authority: We do not conform to your standards, and we refuse to do so! We are exceeding our boundaries, and we demand you recognize yours. Let your violent love and your sacred family be yours; we want to live our lives!”