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Zehra, a student at Istanbul University staying in a KYK dormitory, explained the security concerns she experienced after İkbal and Ayşenur were killed and what needed to be done.
They are Generation Z, sometimes looked up to and sometimes blamed for undesirable results. They are sometimes loved, sometimes condemned. Most of all, they are criticized for not taking action and being compared with previous generations. But they have a sore spot that, when touched, makes the loudest noise. They are their sisters.
When Zeren Ertaş was killed in an elevator accident due to the negligence of the KYK, they were the ones who covered the walls of universities and KYK dormitories from every corner of the country with Zeren’s name. Today, they are the ones who united for Zeren’s 18-year-old classmates İkbal Uzuner and Ayşenur Halil, who were killed days before November 25.
Zehra, a student at Istanbul University staying in a KYK dormitory, explained the security concerns she experienced after İkbal and Ayşenur were killed and what needed to be done.
“Frankly, the lack of security, especially in university dormitories, has been scaring me in the last few years. Sometimes, even walking alone at night can be difficult. In particular, the insufficient security measures in dormitories and other negligences increase the concerns of many of us. After hearing what happened to a friend of mine, I began to question whether I was truly safe.
“I live in a city far from my family, and as my security concerns increase, it becomes more challenging to be alone. When I don’t feel truly safe, I don’t know who to share it with or how to find support. Many of my friends share similar concerns. This security problem affects our physical and psychological health as young women. School administrations need to take security measures in dormitories seriously. It is essential to increase the number of cameras and to have stricter checks by security guards late at night.
While the 25th of November was approaching
The death of İkbal and Aybut didn’t bring pain solely to their parents but also to their friends, all women and society. Both of the two young women were killed as a result of the system’s neglect of its responsibilities. These deaths turned into great anger. The protests that were initiated in universities, dormitories and on the streets were an indication of rebellion. Students raised their voices for women to be safe in the universities and all spaces. The inadequacies and negligence of KYK dormitories and the security weaknesses in dormitories and universities again came to light. However, this time, the pain felt after a lost life turned into a social awareness, not an individual one.
The protests symbolised future generations’ struggle to defend themselves and demand their rights after the losses. The cries rising while the 25th of November was approaching not only reminded us that the responsibility in the fight against violence against women should be underlined once again; it also became a voice, a hope.
November 25th, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, will echo with a powerful voice this year, as it does every year. The names of İkbal and Ayşenur will be cried by thousands of women who come together on university campuses, dormitories, streets, and social media platforms; these will be places where it is shouted that the fight against violence against women should not be limited to just one day and that the search for a continuous and permanent solution should become a priority.
The fight against violence against women will find strength not only by relying on the pain of the past but also on the hopes of the future. And every year on November 25th, the voice of justice, equality, and freedom will be louder!
