NEWS CENTER – PAJK Member Viyan Leyla, who participated in the Xwebun program broadcast on Jin TV and presented by Arjin Baysal, touched upon the rape culture and its reflections in Kurdistan.
‘MALE DOMINATION SYSTEM IS A RAPE SYSTEM’
“Our treatment of rape is different from that of the dominant systems. In state systems, rape is only considered as an attack against a woman’s body. In other words, sexual assault against a woman without the woman’s will or an attack that will break the virginity of a woman is defined as rape for states. We find this definition wrong and insufficient. Our definition of rape as a women’s liberation movement is that understandings built with male-dominated mentality patterns are rape. We define the five-thousand-year-old male-dominated system as a rape system. In terms of the word, abuse is a very narrow definition. Rape has a much broader meaning. Yes, buse is only one of them. The usurpation of social values, exploitation, plunder, deprivation, all seizure by special warfare methods is actually an encroachment.
In fact, all these are carried out on the body of the woman in a way. But it’s not just limited to the female body. Women are exposed to the attack and rape of the male-dominated system in every aspect. Language, culture, soil, soul, brain and body are being raped. All the values created by the woman are forcibly abuse. It builds the values of its own sovereign system instead of all the values it has seized and usurped. What are these values; willpower, slavery and inequality. From this point of view, it is incomplete and wrong to define rape only as a ‘rapist’ situation. In short, we define the usurpation of moral, moral, ethical and aesthetic social values as rape.
RAPE IN MYTHOLOGY
We often come across this in the mythological narratives widely used among the Sumerian priestly states. For example, in Inana enki mythology we can see this rape culture. Enki as the strong and cunning male god, the protector of society, seizes the believer’s 104 me by deception and cunning, and carries out the first usurpation. Inana carries out a very serious struggle to get these mournings back. The rapes of the cunning god Enki against the goddesses take place in mythological accounts. According to the mythological narrative, the first physical rape was committed by the god Enki against the goddess Ereshkigal, the winter sister of the goddess Inana. Again, the mythology of Tiamat and Marduk can be considered in this context. Cultural and systemic encroachments develop after physical encroachments. This is also called the first sexual break. The essence of the word “state”, which is already of Arabic origin, is based on this rape culture. Civilization comes to this day by developing itself through this culture.
WHY IS IT DEFINED AS RAPE CULTURE?
Culture itself means the whole of the material and spiritual values of the society. From this point of view, the rape culture can be considered a little strange. But capitalist modernity empties concepts and imposes new meanings. Because it wants to create a new understanding and system by changing perceptions. The culture created by the capitalist system; sexism, nationalism, and religion. A single system was created by destroying the diversity and wealth in the society. The woman was usurped with everything and made a slave. It does whatever it takes. It’s going privately.
‘KURDISTAN SPECIALLY IS THE TARGET OF THE Dominant MALE MENTALITY’
Kurdistan is specifically targeted by the dominant male mentality. The culture of rape, that is, the culture of usurpation, has spread to every area of life. For example; Although the main language in Kurdistan is Kurdish, this language has been ignored and Turkish has been made obligatory instead. Schools become its official institution. Although you are a Kurd, you take an oath every day and deny your Kurdishness and instead you present your existence to the Turkish existence. Can there be a more disastrous culture of extortion, plunder and rape than this? YİBOs played a very special role in this issue in Kurdistan. The policies of cultural assimilation and surrender have dominated themselves through different institutions.
Again, with the understanding of religion and the family institution, turning the woman into a taboo in the society within the framework of the understanding of honor. In the event of a physical attack against a woman, although the woman was not guilty of any crime, she saw it as a matter of honor and made the murder of the woman permissible. These are the result of rape culture.
The military institution of the Turkish state should also be seen as an institution of rape. For example; Turkish soldiers carry out all kinds of rape in Kurdistan as part of a special war. This is not just limited to physical rape. They are specially trained to play with all the moral values of Kurdish society. There is not a day when the usurpation, plundering and rape of soldiers, police or guards in Kurdistan is not seen. Although these are within the scope of social crimes, since they were developed as a result of the state’s private policy, those who do this are also specially protected by the state. If we remember, two hundred soldiers and police raped a Kurdish girl in Mardin. A mentally unstable girl was raped in Şırnak. İpek Er and Gülistan Doku can be given as examples. The aim of all these is to attack Kurdish society in the person of Kurdish women. In this regard, the first duty falls to the mothers. The thing to remember here is; that the executioner will never fall in love with you. Kurdish women should be very sensitive and measured in this regard.
There is also a demographic rape. They do this every day in Bashure Kurdistan and Rojava. It is not enough for him to occupy Afrin and Serê Kani, he is also trying to get something that does not belong to him by destroying and stealing the natural riches there. This is also a rape. Because everything that is not yours and that you want to have by force is rape.
ATTITUDES OF THE KURDISH SOCIETY
When we look at the level of the developing attacks, we can say that the reflexes developed against it are weak. Although strong reactions may develop from time to time, this does not turn into a general situation. When the attacks against children and women are exposed, the society needs to create an outrage against it. For example; rapist Musa Orhan still lives in society. Even if the reactions develop, this does not turn into an attitude or a penal sanction in a situation that will deter him and others like him. It would be wrong to expect anything from the state in this regard. It is the state that does it. Therefore, perpetrators are state officials. Garibe Gezer tried to make his voice heard from the dungeon. But Garibe is not with us today, as there are very few people who hear this voice.
The society should defend itself against the developing rape culture. Do not expect anything from anyone in this regard. If this is not the case, the society will rot. It begins to disappear in societies where there is corruption and corruption. In order for this not to happen, social resistance and sensitivity must be at a high level.
THE IMPORTANCE OF SELF DEFENSE
Self-defense has to be the primary measure for women. All beings in nature maintain their existence on the basis of self-defense. Every living thing has a different defense mechanism. But women’s self-defense has been taken away by men. For this reason, the murder of women is done very easily. When a woman defends herself in the face of an attack, she is judged by the society and the state and is never accepted. They are afraid that the woman will be able to defend herself. We see the most concrete example of this through experience. This is why they attack the women’s liberation movement so much. Because it is a structure that has proven that women can defend themselves in all matters. They develop all kinds of attacks in order to prevent this positive example for women from developing.
The main thing women need to understand above all else is that no woman is destined to live with a man. There is always the possibility of a free and alternative life for women. For this, women have to reject the given system. They should wage a struggle against the male-dominated system on the basis of their own understanding of life. Unless the women’s liberation struggle is radically developed, changes will not occur. The Êzidî women’s organization is very meaningful and striking in this regard. A women’s organization that develops its own self-defense power against the edicts, massacres and rape culture is taken into account in the society and has to approach accordingly. Let’s not forget that the male-state system has developed based on power, extortion and plunder. This has led to a culture of rape.
