Main opposition hits out at false figures on violence

ANKARA - Hürriyet Daily News

Republican People’s Party (CHP) deputy Aylin Nazlıaka criticizes ministries for releasing conflicting figures about violence against women. AA photo

Both the government and the judiciary are like the three monkeys – “See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil,” – when the issue comes to the molestation women have been exposed to, a deputy of the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) said July 8. She vowed that despite all negativity, they would continue their resistance as women.

Men killed 88 women, raped 77 women, injured 117 women and abused 91 women in the first six months of 2013, CHP Ankara deputy Aylin Nazlıaka stated at a press conference at Parliament.

Nazlıaka said the figures released by different ministries conflicted.

“According to the Justice Ministry, 953 women were killed in the first seven months of 2009; according to the Interior Ministry, 324 women were killed. But according to the data released by [Family and Social Policies Minister] Fatma Şahin with reference to the Interior Ministry, the number is 171,” she said.

“It is obvious that there isn’t any coordination between the ministries but one ministry contradicts itself. Family and Social Policies Minister Fatma Şahin gave two different answers to the same questions on the same day in response to two separate motions. While she declared to [Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) deputy] Mülkiye Birtane that 23 women had been killed between March and September 2012, she declared to [BDP deputy parliamentary group chair] Pervin Buldan that 125 women were killed between January and September 2012.”
She added that these are manifestations of “the insincere approach” of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) on the issue.

“We will win by resisting,” Nazlıaka said.