Women in Şırnak (Şirnex) face mounting violence exacerbated by judicial impunity, especially in cases involving Turkish state officials, according to lawyer Suzan Karagol of the Şırnak Bar Association.
Speaking to Mezopotamya Agency’s Zeynep Durgut on Friday, Karagol condemned systemic barriers preventing women from accessing justice, including dismissive attitudes from Turkish authorities and a lack of accountability for perpetrators. “The state protects its own officials, enabling a culture of violence,” she said, referencing cases where military and police personnel accused of violence against women often avoid significant punishment.
Karagol highlighted the judiciary’s complicity in perpetuating harm. “In trials, the murdered woman becomes the accused as judges seek to legitimise the actions of perpetrators,” she explained, adding that women are often pressured to reconcile with their abusers, leaving their rights unmet.
She criticised official statistics that downplay violence in Şırnak, saying, “They claim our region sees the least violence, but reality proves otherwise.” Karagol called for the enforcement of international agreements like the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) and local measures such as women’s shelters to combat the crisis.
“Justice requires systemic reform and collaboration among the judiciary, NGOs and local governments,” she stressed. “Preventing violence must begin before women lose their lives.”
