JINHA

ISTANBUL – Thousands marched down Istanbul's central İstiklal Avenue on Saturday for Özgecan Aslan, the 20-year-olduniversity studentraped and then burned to death in Mersin, Turkey. Actions took place across Turkey this Valentine's Day calling for the resignation of Minister of Family and Social Policies Ayşenur İslam and for an end to a justice system that protects the murderers of women.

In Istanbul, members of the platform "We Will Stop Women Homicides" led a march with the support of the Peoples' Democracy Party (HDP), Republican People's Party (CHP), Progressive Women, Saturday Mothers, the families of victims of femicide, the singer Demet Akalın and male marchers.

At the end of the march in Galatasaray Square, the first to speak Çiğdem Evcil, sister of Muhterem Göçmen, a woman killed by her husband.Çiğdem said she was afraid to send her daughter to school given the violence against women. Said CHP Istanbul MP Melda Onur: "Today's February 14. We don't want love. Leave us alone, that's enough!" The speeches were met with cries for Minister İslam to resign. "If she's not stopping the murder of women, what business does she have sitting in that chair?" asked Melda, referring to Minister İslam. "We won't let her sit there so comfortably!"

Women in the city of Dersim denounced the murder with a march from Sanat Street to Özgürlük Square, joined by Dersimrepresentatives of Democratic Regions Party (DBP), Municipal Co-Mayor Mehmet Ali Bul and Regional Co-ChairMelek Dolaz.A statement on behalf of the women present declared that the rage women have built upwill burn down the "justice" systemthat protectsthe murderers of women. "We're talking to you, President Erdoğan, who say you don't believe in the equality of women," said the statement. Women left candles and carnationsat the feet of Dersim's statue of freedom.

In Yeşilsu Square in the city of Antep, a range of LGBTI, women's and youth groupscame together to denounce the murder.Beren Atıcı of the Parliament of Socialist Women, speaking at the gathering, pointed out that as long as murders justified in the name of "honor" were met with reduced sentences or treated lightly in court, men would continue carrying them out with the expectation of short sentences or no jail time at all.

"Down with the laws that marry us off when we're still children and condemn us to a lifetime of rape! Down with the morality that discriminates and kills us based on our sexual identity alone! Down with the masculinist language that legitimates those who kill us just for being women! Down with the rules that discriminate against us from education to the family to the street! We will call the murders to account and bring down the male state!" said Beren.