JINHA

AMED – Since the death of Ferinaz Xosrawanî, 26, in her attempt to escape a rape attempt by Iranian state security forces, Kurdish women across the world have stood up against the state's rape policies and are calling for support.

Ferinaz was a Kurdish woman and a worker at the Tara Hotel, in Mahabad, Iran. Locals say Iranian intelligence forces had guaranteed a fifth star for the four-star Tara Hotel in exchange for a "rendezvous" with Ferinaz, who did not learn of the plans for her until she was locked in a room with an intelligence officer. She fell from a window trying to escape the rape.

Rojbin Behrami, originally from Eastern Kurdistan, came to the sit-in in the Northern Kurdish city of Diyarbakır yesterday. Although Rojbin, of the Eastern Kurdistan Democratic Women's Union, is in Diyarbakır, located within the borders of Turkey, she says borders won't stop Kurdish solidarity with the city of Mahabad.

"We're here to stand up for Ferinaz and Eastern Kurdistan," she said. "We will continue to struggle against rape culture in every area we are."

Havva Çetin, of the Peace Mothers Assembly, also came to the rally. The Peace Mothers, many of whom have lost children or relatives in the Turkish state's war in Kurdistan, work as women to promote peace. She noted that the Iranian state has been executing Kurdish youth for years. She said Ferinaz's death and resistance was a continuation of Kurdish youth's struggle against this attack.

"If the Iranian state wants to be known as a Muslim state, let them act like it," she said. "Kurdish children want their rights and they will defend their rights. If our people are being executed before people's eyes, we don't accept that state as Muslim. And we don't see the people who stand by and watch as humans."

Xasê Çelebi, in Diyarbakır from the European Peace Assembly, echoed Havva's sentiments, connecting the death of Ferinaz to a broader Iranian state policy of killing and rape in the Kurdish region.

"As if the executions weren't enough, they stone women and try to assimilate them by raping and harassing them," said Xasê. "We don't want these killings anymore."

(ekip/fk/cm)