Beritan Canözer /JINHA

AMED – Eğitim Sen Diyarbakır Branch co-chair Havva Karahancı stated that they were targeted because they advocated an alternative education system and carried out an organized struggle against sexist and monotype education system. “We won’t be intimidated, we will go on a hunger strike at the last stage,” said Havva.

Teachers, who carried out a strike action against war by using their union rights and they are facing house raids, detention and arrests for their action. In particular, the teachers in Diyarbakır are subjected to oppression. Eğitim Sen (the Education and Science Workers Union) Diyarbakır Branch co-chair Havva Karahancı stated that all attacks continued systematically.

Havva also stated that the teachers, who advocate an alternative education system following the education system was changed, have been targeted. She said, “We knew they would attack on us since last year, because the voice of opponents are always tried to be shut up. We reacted to the harassment and sexual abuse in the schools and we tried to end those. Those who reached to the change of education system were us. Of course, we aren’t against the students to learn their religions but we don’t approve the children, who cannot have education in their native language, to have religion lessons from morning to night.

“They want to instill the mentality strengthen their power to the society. The attacks on education system develop out of that. They are trying to extend their power by marginalizing differences through education. We always advocate an alternative, secular, scientific education and education in native language. We will continue to advocate the alternative education as organized and conscious teachers.”

Havva emphasizes that the houses of the teachers have been raided and female teachers have been detained with their babies. Havva said, “They batter teachers and carry out inhuman applications against them. About 30 teachers are in custody and seven of our friends are jailed. Most women were detained by being insulted in front of their children. Some of them were detained with their babies.”

Havva said that they would continue their struggle and would go on a hunger strike at the last stage.

(tm/gc/gd)