Ankara- The obligation for married women to take the surname of the male spouse was legally abolished in Türkiye on January 28, 2024, when the Turkish Constitutional Court’s decision came into force. However, a draft law preventing married women from taking their premarital surname alone has been submitted to the Turkish General Assembly. Women activists and women’s rights defenders in the country say the draft law will usurp women's rights, if passed.

 The Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) Women’s Council has published a written statement, saying that they will not allow the re-enactment of Article 187 of the Turkish Civil Code, which obliges women to take the surname of their male spouse upon marriage.

“The AKP-MHP male-dominated government aims to legalize misogyny by enacting laws,” the statement said.

“Article 187 of the Turkish Civil Code deepens gender inequality. The Constitutional Court ruled to abolish the article and its decision was published in the Official Gazette. The misogynist political power drafted a new article without making any changes by taking action to fill the gap in the law. Trying to pass the draft law is an attack on women's identity. We will never allow this draft law to be passed by the government that produces policies reinforcing gender inequality. The draft law is an attack on women's rights and achievements. We will strengthen our struggle for freedom and equality everywhere. Those who attack our rights by drafting laws, silence, intimidate and ignore women should know very well that we exist and we will exist.”