JINHA

MERSIN – Figen Yüksekdağ, Co-General Chair of the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP), speaking in Mersin where Özgecan Aslan was raped and murdered, said that the state was instigating the ongoing murders of women.

The co-chair visited workers laid off by the Mersin Municipality, which is governed by the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP). The workers, hired under a precarious subcontracting scheme,set up tents several months ago, asking to return to their jobs.

Figenthen spoke an event at Özgür Çocuk Park opposing the violence against women represented by the attack on Özgecan. She noted that in just the week since Özgecan's murder, multiple women have been murdered or driven to suicide.

President Erdoğan and other top AKP figureshad instigated attacks, she said, with advice to women that demonstrated their tolerance for violence:"don't go outside" and "if you're attacked, scream."The judicial system also encouraged attackers because, as Figen said, "killers of women don't get punishments; they get prizes."

"If the President and government officials do this, what won't a psychopathic man in the street do?" Figen asked.

"Rebellion is a right and women will rebel even more," she said. "Women's resistance is entirely legitimate, from the Parliament to the streets." She said AKP politicians' recent physical assault of opposition parliamentarians on the floor of Parliament resulted ultimately from their animosity towards women.

While in Mersin, Figen also visited Özgecan's family to pay her respects.

(fk/mg/cm)