*Sena Cengiz
We interviewed Yağmur from Medipol University about the actions taken after the murder of Ayşenur Halil, a student at their school.
İkbal Uzuner and Ayşenur Halil are two young women who were killed as a result of male violence in Turkey. While these murders target women, they affect every segment of society, every individual. The loss of İkbal Uzuner and Ayşenur Halil was a great tragedy not only for their families but also for the entire country. They were not just students but also friends, young women, and sources of life. İkbal and Ayşenur had hopes and dreams for life. However, male violence took them from us.
The angry demonstrations that took place on campus after the murder of Ayşenur, a student at Medipol University, revealed once again the social pressures women experience and how violence is deeply rooted.
We spoke with Yağmur from Medipol University to learn more about the university students’ growing demonstrations and the protests.
“This was not just a mourning; it was a call for change”
Can you tell us about the preparation process and the importance of the demonstrations?
I am a student at Medipol University. After losing İkbal and Ayşenur, almost my peers, the demonstrations started very quickly on the university campus. On campus, in classrooms, in cafes… Everywhere, a common anger rose against violence and murders of women. My friends and I were not only overwhelmed with grief; we had also decided to reject this violence, this systematic massacre, once again. This movement formed in our school and on the campus became a compelling voice. These demonstrations were much more than an ordinary protest; they symbolised a society, a generation, and women’s struggle to survive.
The protests spread very quickly. While we initially tried to organise it with a few people, it quickly engulfed the entire university. Social media has become a potent tool for growing these demonstrations. Hashtags, posts, videos… Everyone wanted to make their voices heard. That was not just a mourning but a demand for change. We saw that when the power of women comes together, we can create a massive rebellion.
These protests in our university were not just demonstrations but actually the footsteps of a social movement. We should not forget that femicides are not limited to a single loss but are linked in a chain. These murders are the result of control over women’s bodies, gender inequality, and a patriarchal structure. While we hear news of a new femicide every day in Turkey, we, as young people, should raise our voices. The memory of Ayşenur Halil and İlkbal Uzuner symbolises the struggle for us, and we will continue to support this struggle.
“I have hope”
Will university students take their growing anger after Ayşenur and İkbal to the streets on November 25? Do Medipol University students have any work regarding November 25?
November 25th is the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and it is very important for us this year, as it is every year. But this year, it is even more meaningful, especially after the loss of Ayşenur and all we have experienced. As we approach November 25th, I am frankly outraged on the one hand and determined on the other. It is annoying to remember the violence and murders that women experience once again and to have to commemorate this every year. But at the same time, this day has become a day when more people become aware, and more voices are raised yearly. That is why I have hope. Together, we have more power to say “stop” to this violence. We will carry the voice we raised on our campus to the streets on November 25th this year to keep the memory of Ayşenur and all women alive.
