KURDISTAN: Kurdish Women Break the Silence

Kurdish women broke the silence through their long lasting struggle against suppressions and general assimilations as well.

Kurdish women not only broke the silence but also broke the routine since 1990s. And now they are on duty as members of parliament, mayors, co-chair of Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) and its branches. BDP is the party which taken first place regarding the number of women MP. BDP's women quota is also the highest rate comparing other parties' women quota including ruling party Justice and Development Party (AKP).

This reality is not only valid for BDP but also other pro-Kurdish parties like People' Labor Party (HEP), Democracy Part (DEP), Freedom and Democracy Party (ÖZDEP), People' Democracy Party (HADEP), Party for Democratic People (DEHAP) and finally Democratic Society Party (DTP) which they were all closed down by the government.

Former MP Leyla Zana, who spent 10 year in prison for saluting Grand National Assembly of Turkey in Kurdish and Dürre Kaya, who was elected Mayor of Hilvan in 1979, are only two examples for progressive Kurdish women. Developments of Kurdish women are not only in politic era but also in social life which is the most backward traditions were current in the region.
Polygyny and domestic violence against women is crime according to the parties' internal law. BDP municipalities' collective agreements with workers are also including the same rules. If a worker practiced domestic violence his wage might be paid to his wife.
Kurdish women's struggle speeded in 1990 when the suppressions and extrajudicial killings were also speed up.

Kurdish women effectively involved in politics and social life in order to protect their culture, identity and also their right. They resisted against the state as well as their men and men's world which highly strict women identity in the region.

Now there are 8 women PMs out of 21 PMs of BDP in the Assembly and 14 women mayors out of 99 mayors from BDP in the region. The percentage of active women in BDP or the other pro-Kurdish parties is the higher rate comparing the other parties despite long lasting backward traditions of society and also heavy suppressions of the state.