JINHA

İZMİR – The group Peace Bloc attempted to present a press statement yesterday in Izmir, Turkey to condemn the massacre in the town of Cizre. Police attacked the crowd, arresting and sexually assaulting two women. The women have spoken out about the assault.

The coalition group Peace Bloc attempted to hold a gathering in Izmir, Turkey yesterday to condemn the massacre in the city of Cizre. However, police attacked before the group could read the statement, arresting 47. Among them were Sultan Eylem Keleş and Sibel Yaşar, members of the Women’s Initiative for Peace. Sultan and Sibel, who were released last night, described the sexual assault that they were subjected to while under arrest.

“When we were arrested, we were subjected to both sexual assault and sexist swearing,” said Sultan. “As we were being arrested, we suddenly found ourselves surrounded by riot police. There were more than I can count on my fingers. One was touching my breasts, one was touching my hips. Then there were all these sexist swears. Because our mouths were covered up while we were taken to the arrest wagon, we couldn’t cry out about what was happening.”

Sultan emphasized that the sexual assault was not a coincidence, but the product of a systematic mindset.

“When we went to the health control, we said that we had been sexually assaulted, but they said this wouldn’t appear in the report,” said Sultan. “When we gave our testimony we complained about this. We will also be filing charges.

“We know that war itself is organized on the basis of misogyny,” said Sultan. “We know that patriarchal values get escalated and promoted in these times.”

Seven of the 47 arrested were sent to the court with a demand for their continued detention.

(mb/gc/cm)