MEDİNE MAMEDOĞLU

 Amed- The Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office issued an arrest warrant against 50 members of the Free Women’s Movement (Kurdish: Tevgera Jinên Azad-TJA) on charges of “being a member of a terrorist organization”. On November 29, 2022, police raided 57 homes in 14 cities and detained 23 members of the TJA. While the detained 13 women were released from custody under judicial control pending the trial, 10 women were sent to prison.

The names of the women held in pre-trial detention are: Aysel Ceylan, Bedia Akkaya, Hülya Kınağu, Gülistan Dehşet, Amine Demir Çoban, Mekiye Ormancı, Figen Aras Kaplan, Figen Ekti, Didar Çeşme and Hatice Güngör. The names of the women, who were released under judicial control are: Beritan Can Yaş, Hazal Aras, Dilan Akpolat, Yeliz Ayyıldız, Hülya Taşar, Zeynep Boğa, Zekiye Güler, Tamcihan Çelebi, Sultan Esen, Besile Narin, Hatice Yaman, Merve Tekin Demirel and Meral Şimşek.

In April 2023, the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office prepared an indictment against women and the indictment was accepted by the Ankara 25th High Criminal Court.

Collecting rubbish considered as a terrorist activity

The first 30 pages of the indictment included information about the foundation of the PKK/KCK and the charters of the Free Women's Congress (Kongreya Jinên Azad-KJA), which was closed down by an emergency decree issued in 2016 and the Free Democratic Young Women (ÖDGK). According to the indictment, being members of the TJA constituted a crime. The indictment also included the panels and press conferences on femicide, gender-based violence held by the TJA. In the indictment, each step taken by the women such as collecting rubbish, their activities to protect nature, is considered a crime. All activities held by the KJA on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and International Women’s Day were also included in the indictment.

No concrete evidence for the accusations

The indictment also included the statements of a secret witness named “Ulaş” and other witnesses named Kerem Gökalp, Fırat Şişman, Sabri Erdoğan and Merdan Rüştü Ovalıoğlu. In addition, there is no concrete evidence for the accusations against the women in the indictment.

Not having a bank account considered as a crime

In the indictment, transferring money between banks by women is also considered a crime while not having a bank account is also considered as a crime. The prosecutor's office described the interview of the women with news agencies on Kurdish women and other issues as “preparation for action”. The women face accusations for travelling abroad.

First hearing to be held on November 7

The 326-page indictment demands prison sentence against 23 women. The first hearing of the trial will be held by the Ankara 25th High Criminal Court on November 7, 8 and 9.