DENİZLİ -  Leili Faraji, one of the refugees who came to Turkey as a result of the pressure they faced in Iran and was detained for defending the Istanbul Convention, drew attention to the fact that the problem of women is the same everywhere, and said that Turkey is on its way to becoming Iran.

 

4 Iranian refugees, who were detained on 20 March for participating in the demonstration for İstanbul Convention in Denizli,  were released on 7 May from the Aydın Removal Center, where they were detained with the decision of deportation. We talked with Iranian refugees Esmaeil Fattahi and Leili Faraji about the situation of women in Iran and Turkey and the importance of the Convention.

 

Underlining that the problems of women in both countryies are very similar, Esmaeil Fattahi told that the convention wasn't implemented even though it was in effect in Turkey and at least one woman lost her life in that time. Emphasizing that the violence against women is an international matter, Fettahi said: "Women are subjected to more violence in Iran. Forced marriage is very common at a young age. Hijab is mendatory. We are not even free to wear what we want to wear. Iran bases its laws on Islam. Women are not exactly considered to be human. They are less then human. One men can be a witness in a court while at least two women have to testify as a witness for it to be counted. We work cheaper as workers and the concept of 'women's murders' are legitimed as 'honour murders'. We don't have the right to get a divorce, we are not allowed to watch sports games tribunes. We don't even have the right to file a criminal complaint when we are subjected to violence. We, as well as the LGBTİ+ are not protected by law."

 

FIGTH FOR FREEDOM

 

Underlining the fact that women and LGBTİ+ individuals who fight for their rights are targeted in Iran, Fettahi said the fact that they were detained and threatened with deportation is to leave them out of the struggle. Fettahi said: "We were released with the pressure of the people, I want to thank each and everyone of them. We will not be supressed by pressures and never give up on our struggle for freedom."

 

Stating that women in Iran who fights against discrimination and bans are always tried to be supressed by investigations and arrests, Fattahi said: "The state has to change all its elements that feeds discrimination. It should build a new culture with a gender equality perspective. We want to have equal rights, the laws must change too. The Iranian regime does not take any steps for our demands. We came to Turkey because the Iranian state did not meet our demands and did not protect us, but its just the same in here as well.  Turkey should also make necessary arrangements to protect women and LGBTI + individuals and ensure their equality and must definitely implement the Istanbul Convention ”.

 

TURKEY IS BECOMING IRAN

 

Another refugee Leili Faraji said the biggest problem of both countries is the women's issue. Underlining that violence against women have increased since the announcement made to withdraw from the convention, Faraji said: "I think that Turkey is fast turning into Iran. Our earned rights have been usurped by such policies. Even though there was a contract, there were femicides, now there will be more. It is so wrong to withdraw from the convention."

 

 

MA/ Sevda Aydın