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Women came together in the district of Yenişehir in Turkey's southeastern province of Diyarbakır yesterday (January 22) and formed a human chain in protest against feminicides and male violence.

Joining hands, women raised their concerns over feminicides, especially the recent killing of Merve Demirkol by her husband in Diyarbakır.

Led by Dicle Amed Women's Platform (DAKAP), the protest was joined by several women, including Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP Diyarbakır MP Remziye Tosun, HDP Diyarbakır Provincial and District executives, Peace Mothers, the Socialist Party of the Oppressed (ESP) members

Forming a human chain under elaborate security measures, women carried the banners that read "We want to live", "Where is Gülistan Doku?, "Enough is enough", "Femicides cannot have a reason", "Men hit, the state protects" and "Not power, but free equal life."

Joining hands against male violence and feminicides, women have also chanted the slogan "You will never walk alone."

Akat: We are defending life"

Speaking during the protest, Rosa Women's Association Executive Board member Ayla Akat stated that they came together with the hope that each and every ring of their human chain would be a reason for life.

Underlining that women are killed by their immediate families, relatives and friends, Akat added the following in brief:

"The husbands, brothers and boyfriends of women become their murderers. As for men, they become heroes. After being murdered, many women are attempted to be isolated by statements such as 'there was a reason.'

"We are here, joining hands. We are the rings of that human chain. We are defending life, we are defending the sacredness of life. No woman can be condemned to death for any reason whatsoever.

"We were here for Melike, for Merve, for Müzeyyen. We believe that - instead of hindering women's organizations having responsibility in such issues - there will also be a power of women holding hands in the future. We will keep on defending our existent claim under all types of threats as well." (EKN/SD)

* Source and photo: Mezopotamya Agency