Politics Club discussed the psychological and political aspects of femicide

A seminar titled ‘Are Femicides Political?’ was organized by Istanbul Medipol University Politics Club. Lawyer-Author Vildan Yirmibeşoğlu and Expert Psychological Counselor-Psychotherapist Özlem Çelik Gürbüz were the guests of the event held at the South Campus.

GÜRBÜZ: NOT ALL PATIENTS ARE PRONE TO VIOLENCE
Expert Psychological Counselor-Psychotherapist Özlem Çelik Gürbüz pointed out that femicides cannot be explained only by individual psychological problems and emphasized the social and political dimensions of such cases. Gürbüz said: “Politics and policy are the most important factors that play a decisive role in the prevention of femicides or the occurrence of such incidents. Basing violence against women solely on a psychological disorder means individualizing the problem and ignoring its social dimension. However, not all individuals with mental disorders are prone to violence; it is entirely a result of their life experiences and their own choices. Therefore, in order to prevent violence, politics and policy should put in place effective legal regulations to curb the aggressive tendencies of individuals. It is critical that policies focus primarily on education. Our duty as a society is, instead of reducing cases of violence to psychological disorders, to take this crime seriously and avoid trivializing it.”

YİRMİBEŞOĞLU: OUR LAWS AND STATUTES ARE NOT INCOMPLETE
Lawyer-Author Vildan Yirmibeşoğlu drew attention to the patriarchal prejudices and social problems behind femicides and shared a striking experience. Yirmibeşoğlu said: “A woman asked me for help because she was afraid of being killed by her husband. Unfortunately, she and her mother were killed because they went out at night. The prosecutor, on the other hand, justified the murder on the grounds of customary tradition.” Yirmibeşoğlu emphasized that such cases are a reflection of social problems and that the solution should be provided through political means. Stating that our laws are not inadequate but they must be implemented correctly, Yirmibeşoğlu said: “Through our projects, we organize trainings for police and prosecutors on family courts. Because trust in the law is ensured through people equipped with the right knowledge in this field.”