*Ezgi Tatlı
The decision to dissolve the Women’s Studies Club at Istanbul Aydin University following the protest against male violence was withdrawn following protests. Istanbul Aydin University students explained the process to Unises.
Following the murder of Ayşenur Halil and İkbal Uzuner by a man, a protest against femicide was held at Istanbul Aydın University (İAÜ), as it was at many universities. Approximately 800 students participated in this protest.
Immediately after the protests, the school administration stated that an investigation had been launched into the İAÜ Women’s Studies Club and did not allow the club to hold events. Then, the school administration verbally informed the club president that the club administration had been terminated. It was stated that the reason was participation in the protests and sharing photos of these protests on the club’s social media account.
In a statement on the club account, the club administration stated that the decision was unlawful, that they would exercise their constitutional rights and called for solidarity with other university women’s groups.
Women’s clubs from many universities, such as Yıldız Technical University, Istanbul University, Middle East Technical University, Maltepe University, Hacettepe, and Bilkent, made a joint statement stating that they stand by the IAU Women’s Studies Club.
The media reported the protests, and public opinion was formed. Following these, the school administration sent a document to the club administration stating that the club administration had not been terminated and would continue its duties. We asked Istanbul Aydin University students about this process and the conditions while the 25th of November is approaching.
“The decision has received a huge backlash.”
Şevval, a student at Istanbul Aydın University, explained that the termination decision received a great reaction, and the university administration stepped back after the solidarity protests. Şevval stated that they will continue women’s solidarity in the future to ensure a democratic university environment.
“I think the decision is completely undemocratic. In these times when femicides are increasing, it is unacceptable to try to terminate this club that aims to create a safe environment for women on campus. We reject the oppression mechanisms of women. It is our most natural right to take action against femicides.”
“Young women from all over Turkey, like us, expressed their protests and raised their voices against femicides. This solidarity created great awareness. The awareness pushed young women to participate more actively in the struggle. As a result of this solidarity, we regained our club management. We stood against the unlawfulness that was being attempted to be carried out through antidemocratic means with our solidarity. That gave us hope and strength. We were on the streets with this strength despite all the obstacles on November 25.”
“The biggest problem on campus is sexual harassment”
When we asked about other problems they experienced on campus, Şevval said that the biggest problem is sexual harassment:
“The biggest problem on campus is that incidents of harassment and violence are not taken seriously enough and that complaint mechanisms are slow. Our activities on this issue were prevented with various excuses. The absence of a unit such as CİTÖK (Commission for the Prevention of Sexual Harassment) makes these problems further unsolvable. Impunity emboldens the perpetrators. The decision to withdraw from the Istanbul Convention weakened legal protection mechanisms, and women’s safety was left to individual struggles.”
“Termination is an attack on women’s struggle”
İclal said that the attempts to terminate the Club’sclub’s management were a reflection of the attacks on women’s struggle:
“The attempts to terminate the Women’s Studies Club’s management are a reflection of the systematic oppression against the struggle for women’s rights. This undemocratic and unlawful decision violates the freedom rights at the university. A fair process was not carried out, the reasons were not explained, and our club activities were stalled and stopped. I believe the increasing visibility of women’s solidarity disturbs some circles. While violence against women continues on campus and in the country, we will continue our efforts to make these problems visible despite the pressures. Demonstrations against femicides are not a crime but a shared responsibility of society. Instead of silencing us, the termination process made us stronger. And so the decision was withdrawn. The fact that women’s clubs at many universities spoke out with us and created public opinion, in other words, standing in solidarity, caused this decision to be withdrawn. We are grateful to all our friends who have been with us during this process, and we will continue our fight even stronger together.”
Solidarity resulted in the gain
Women’s Studies Club President Amine emphasised the importance of collective solidarity in overturning the arbitrary decision:
“If we had remained silent and given up on fighting, this injustice would have been accepted, and our work would have been hindered. However, we united against the unlawfulness, raised our voices with women on campus and in other universities, and defended our rights. The reason why the administration stepped back is this spirit of solidarity. We acted together and defended both our club and our rights. We know we always win when we stand shoulder to shoulder as women and increase our solidarity. We will continue to fight for an equal, fair, and safe campus.”
Women’s solidarity continues!
The one-man rule has been attacking women’s acquired rights for a long time. University rectors continue to exist as an extension of these attacks. Because they are afraid of the unity of women, they try to destroy every element that threatens their power. Women’s togetherness is also a direct target here. In the face of this violence that permeates every moment of daily life, young women take the streets demanding a secure and non-violent life. As in the case of Ayşenur and İkbal, these actions, which women’s groups within universities primarily led, were the most massive actions of recent times. They reflected the anger of those who said, “Enough is enough” in the face of this dark picture. There are women who hold each other’s hands tightly against the darkness that fills every area of life with insecurity. They build that trust in women’s unions. They find strength and solidarity in these unions in the face of isolation.
Just like in Istanbul Aydın University, women who came together did not give up and made their voices heard won. Both the club management and the clubs will continue their duties.
Now, we must return to our campuses with this power, demand the establishment of effective Sexual Harassment Prevention Commissions (CİTÖK) to create safe campuses, use university budgets for this purpose, and come together around these demands. Women taking ownership of their togetherness and clubs means protecting their own lives. November 25 was a day when all these demands were heard from all over the country. Women filled the squares against impunity and inequality.
