Ceren Karlıdağ/ JINHA

IZMIR - In Turkey's Aegean city of Izmir, a group of women has formed a women's chorus named after femicide victim Özgecan Aslan. The group says they will use their music to resist violence against women.

Özgecan Aslan, a university student in Turkey's Mersin province, was raped and killed by three men late one night this February as she was returning home from campus. Her death launched mass protests by women, who say the state does nothing to prevent femicides in Turkey.

Now, women in the city of Izmir have formed a chorus named after Özgecan. The group was initially founded by members of an Alevi house of worship. Alevi Muslims face particularly harsh sexist discourse in Turkey (Özgecan was also an Alevi). Chorus member Çiğdem Taşkın says the group was initially having trouble deciding on a name.

"The reason we decided on Özgecan was because this was the most horrifying form of the historical savagery against women," said Çiğdem. Çiğdem says the group is ready to head to any space where women are being exploited.

Velat Balkaya is one of the 18 women in the chorus. Velat, a housewife, says she received criticism from her friends and family, who said that her work was at home and not in a chorus. Velat called on other women afraid of leaving their homes to conquer their fears.

"Trust yourself and join us," she said.

(ck/gc/mg/cm)