URFA - Urfa Provincial Women’s Platform, reacting to the prison sentence given to TJA Term Spokesperson Ayşe Gökkan, stated that the punishment is a new ‘’shame for democracy’’ and said, ‘’Equality is possible with the struggle of politicians like Ayşe Gökkan’’.

 

The Free Women’s Movement (TJA) Term Spokesperson Ayşe Gökkan is facing a 30-year prison sentence in the trial in which she is tried on allegations of ‘’being an executive of a terrorist organization’’ and ‘’being a member of a terrorist organization’’. Urfa Women’s Platform protested the prison sentence given to Ayşe Gökkan by making a statement at the Education and Science Workers’ Union (Eğitim-Sen) Urfa Branch. The Association of Lawyers for Freedom (OHD), Human Rights Association (IHD), members of the Peace Mothers Council and platform members attended the statement. Speaking on behalf of the platform, Selma Ateş, the Urfa Branch Secretary of the Health and Social Service Workers’ Union (SES), said that they condemned the 30-year prison sentence of one of the strongest names in the women’s struggle. Stating that being punished is a new ‘’shame for democracy’’ engraved in the history of the Republic of Turkey, Selma said that Ayşe Gökkan has devoted 35 years of her to gender, women, peace, and education in mother tongue. 

 

‘’We, like Ayşe Gökkan, support all women politicians and activists who have dedicated their lives only to a fair life and who have no other demand than equality and getting what is their right. Because we know that the equality of all of us, the proper implementation of democracy, the apply the justice equal to everyone, the fact that all citizens do not feel like other in their country is only possible with the presence of politicians like Ayşe Gökkan and the struggle for rights,’’ Selma said.

 

‘We do not accept the captive law’

 

‘’We do not accept the captive law applied to Ayşe Gökkan,’’ Selma said. She continued to her speech as, ‘’We demand that the fair, independent and impartial judiciary that should be applied for everyone is also applied for Ayşe Gökkan. We share with the public our demand for an immediate end to the discrimination she has experienced because she is a woman and a Kurd’’.