#MeToo in Turkey
Turkey’s #MeToo moment has not yet arrived. But it is long overdue
IT IS NEVER easy for assault victims to go public, Sila Gencoglu, a popular Turkish singer, wrote on Twitter on November 1st, days after accusing her boyfriend of beating her, dragging her across the floor and hitting her head with an ashtray. “But I also know that by remaining silent I would be betraying myself, the women of this country and anyone who stands against violence.” A storm of hashtags and news articles followed.
Domestic violence is alarmingly widespread in Turkey. Two out of every five Turkish women have been subjected to physical or sexual assault by their partners at some point in their lives, according to the UN. The number murdered by a partner or a family member reached 409 last year, up from 237 four years ago.
This article appeared in the Europe section of the print edition under the headline "Sound of silence"
Europe December 1st 2018
From the December 1st 2018 edition
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