Anti-Istanbul Convention group distributes pamphlets targeting women in Turkish parliament

A pamphlet distributed in Turkey's parliament building claimed that the Istanbul Convention, an international document protecting women against violence, was a national security issue. Conservative circles in Turkey have previously slammed the convention for protecting the rights of "all genders," which was interpreted as encouraging homosexuality.

Wednesday December 23 2020 03:58 pm

Duvar English

A series of pamphlets distributed in the parliament building claimed that the Istanbul Convention, a primary legal document protecting women against violence in Turkey, had become a national security issue and was "negatively discriminating" against men.

Officially called the "Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence," the Istanbul Convention was targeted by conservative circles in Turkey earlier in 2020 for an amendment that mandates signatory states protect the rights of people of "all genders."

Conservative opinion leaders in Turkey wanted Ankara to withdraw from the convention on the grounds that this expression encourages homosexuality, but widespread protest, even from within the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), has discouraged the state from withdrawing.

The pamphlets distributed in parliament by a group called Union of Family Associations called for not only a withdrawal from the Istanbul Convention, but also for the cancellation of Turkish bill 6284 that protects women against violence, ANKA News Agency reported on Dec. 23.

Titled "Abolish the Istanbul Convention and bill 6284 of false accusations. End negative discrimination against men," the pamphlet featured photographs from women's rights protests, saying that "feminism is too much" for women.

"The feminism problem" that's spreading quickly in Turkey, makes women want to remain single and not have children, the pamphlet said, adding that the Family, Labor and Social Services Ministry operated practically as a "Women's Ministry."

"The Istanbul Convention is an assassination weapon directed at the Turkish nation," the pamphlet said.

It also stated that the convention has caused around five million men to be victimized via evacuations from their residence "based on a couple of words from a woman."

The pamphlet also falsely claimed that rape couldn't take place within a marriage as it is both parties' legal right to have or want intercourse with the other.

Topics Istanbul Convention Violence against women in Turkey Turkey Turkish Union of Family Associations