Pelin İKTÜEREN / JINHA

IZMIR - The lawyer who for the first time in Turkey won the right to use her surname before she got married with the desicion of ECHR, Ayten Ünal, stated that she percieves “surname” as a threat to women in patriarchal system, and said “The 'surname' issue is a struggle for equality, freedom and the struggle for being an individual, and right to be themselves, and women and children are not under control of men. So it is a struggle for equality on the one hand, on the other hand a feminist challenge.

We know that the patriarchal system dominates women both in the public and social life with the help of its surname element. Women’ surname of the birth makes it necessary to use the surname of the husband. The lawyer who for the first time in Turkey won the right to use her surname before she got married with the desicion of ECHR Ayten Ünal has talked to JINHA regarding the surname issue.

-          Do you see the surname that the system provides ownership for men as a threat to women in the patriarchal system?

Of course. I believe that it is one of the most fundamental ideological issues. I also think that it has an important issue which makes women alienate to her own personality and identity, and which deprives her right to be herself. In addition, surname as a part of the personality and identity, violates the human rights and public policies due to the obligation to declare private life for each marrige and divorce. Today, it is extremely nature to more protect personal freedom and interests. In Europe, in case of disputes, but which are based on the individual's observed. Half of the male-dominated mentality and how the Assembly has been invaded by men working condition and contrary to reason, I think the same logic last name produces a patriarchal system.

-          What do you think that woman's surname struggle is based on?

I believe that this is a struggle for equality, freedom and the struggle for being an individual, and right to be themselves, and women and children are not under control of men. So I think this is a struggle for equality on the one hand, on the other hand it is a feminist struggle.

-          What are the conditions that women are exposed to due to the surname change? What have you lived?

They have to change all the ID cards including the identity card because it is impossible to do anything on banks without these changes. If you are an acdemician, then you have to prove yourself. Yes, when a woman get married. So when you put the signature, you have to change especially birth certificate, Social Security ID, driver's license, if any, permits, if she is a civil servant, then she has to change civil service cards, passport, ID card, signature cards, credit cards, bank accounts, business cards, signs, state register (For example,  my state register was Akhisar - Manisa, became Bornova-Izmir).  ID numbers are the same as all the information changes. If you were an academician then you have to spend effort to convince that you are the same person...When there was no TC identity card implementation, even if the woman get married, it was possible to use the same ID card as long as she loses it. However,  when the system is changed, she cannot survive with the ex-ID card as long as there is not any case or decision.

-          How has your 'surname' struggle developped?

This demand was not personal, started as a right and continue to struggle. Surname case was opened as a struggle for the rights with the help of social demand. We tried to make our voice louder from Izmir to all over Turkey. We won the case in European Court of Human Rights. I was given the right to use my birth surname. This becomes an area where I with my friends struggle for. But still, it is like there is no result and jurisprudence of Supreme Court-Ünal Tekeli / Turkey case, the law and the Constitution do not recognize. The decisions of Supreme Court with violation of international law and decisions which take back the given rigths are all the result of out-dated mentality.

-          How do you evaluate such an extent protection of surname by the system?

It is because of the fact that they want the power as a whole unconditionally. It is based on an incredible system which makes women and children depend on men who is supposed to be a natural representative and reproductive of family.

Foto: Pelin İKTÜEREN

(pi/hp)