DİYARBAKIR - Diyarbakır’s Dicle Municipality vice Co-mayor Zelal Abiş Birtane, who was fired by the trustee appointed to the municipality, stated that the trustees appointed to the cities of Kurdistan have particularly usurped the women’s gains, “Nothing can block women’s producing power.”

 

Trustees appointed to municipalities governed by Democratic Regions Party (DBP) have fired tens of women in over a year. The female municipal employees, who were fired by trustees targeting particularly women’s gains, were tried to be left without any alternatives. Diyarbakır’s Dicle Municipality vice Co-mayor Zelal Abiş Birtane is one of women fired by appointed trustees. Zelal formed a solidarity network with women following being fired and she has formed her alternative. She has opened a shop called, “Organic Bazaar” and she has encouraged the women around her to produce. Even if she has opened the “Organic Bazaar” to form economic alternative, Zelal’s primary objective is to make contribution to communal economy.

 

‘We can maintain life by any means’

 

Talking about her previously interest in organic products, Zelal noted that she had opened the organic bazaar for this reason. “We want to show the women that we keep our struggle with different alternatives. All products are being produced by natural methods. We get the products to the public with the support of women around me. These products are made entirely of women's communal and made with joint labor,” said Zelal.

 

‘We organize our commune’

 

Stating that she sells not only the products made by her but also the products made by other women, Zelal said, “Women producing terebinth coffees, cheeses in villages, tomato paste and dried vegetables are also with us. I sell the products made by dismissed women and by me. Actually, we organize our commune.”

 

‘Women should keep producing’

 

Stating that she becomes happy when she is supported by women, Zelal said the people first ask “Are you also dismissed?” and Zelal added, “Because we have gone through this process for about a year. Some support me but others never come again when they hear I was dismissed. The women will trust themselves more as they produce. Women know the natural products. For this reason, women should keep having in natural life and producing.”