JINHA

ISTANBUL – Istanbul Feminist Collective (İFK) has called for the immediate release of Yasemin Çakal, who killed the man who attempted to take the lives of herself and her children in Istanbul.

On July 11, 2014, Yasemin Çakal killed her partner, who had long perpetrated violence against herself and her children, in the Büyükçekmece neighborhood of Istanbul. Yasemin had appealed to the state and noted that her husband threatened her with death.

With Yasemin's next heraing scheduled for this Thursday at a court in Bakırköy, feminist groups are calling for court support and demanding her immediate release.

Yasemin's partner, Özkan Kaymaklı, had abused her throughout her marriage, including when she was pregnant. According to the İFK statement, when the child was born, her partner abused not just her but also the baby, sometimes cutting her with a knife. Yasemin had to quit work.The courts ordered a temporary separation.

Yasemin finally went to the police station. In the domestic violence form she filled out that day, next to the question "has your husband attempted to kill you?" Yasemin checked the box that said "yes." The violence continued.

One night, Özkan Kaymaklı locked Yasemin and her child in a room without food or water for a night. In the morning, he began the physical violence again.

"If Yasemin had not defended herself, both she and her child could have died that day," said the İFK. "Now, the court is trying this as an average homicide and are trying to rush through a decision without seeing the evidence."

"As feminists following the case, we want to ask the following of the court. Men kill women for wanting divorces, for wanting to make decisions about their own lives and bodies, for taking steps to flee violence. Do you see such men as the same as Yasemin, who defended herself against the man who had long abused her and threatened to kill her?"

The İFK prepares a monthly report on the legitimate actions of women responding to male violence, called "Women Taking Charge of their Lives."

They have called all women to show solidarity with Yasemin at her hearing in the Bakırköy 13^th Heavy Penal Court on 11:30 a.m. on March 19.

(fk/mg/cm)