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CAMPAIGN OF THE WEEK Freedom for Figen Yuksekdag – the forgotten feminist who everyone should know about

FIGEN YUKSEKDAG is a revolutionary leader who should be revered as an icon across the world as a leading feminist, socialist and Marxist.

Despite leading one of the most inspirational struggles in Europe and beyond, however, her name is barely known outside Turkey or the Kurdish movement.

She has long been on the radar of the Turkish state. As far back as 2009, while editor of the communist Atilim newspaper, Yuksekdag was arrested and taken into custody, with prosecutors accusing the newspaper of conducting “criminal activity.”

On her release she co-founded the Socialist Party of the Oppressed (ESP), standing down as its leader in 2014 to join the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP), becoming its co-chair alongside Selahattin Demirtas.

But she has paid a heavy price for her commitment to the struggle for freedom and democracy against the tyrannical rule of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Figen has been held in jail since November 2016, after scores of HDP parliamentarians were detained in a series of police raids as Erdogan made his anticipated move against the party.

And her supporters argue that she has been targeted with severe punishment because she is a woman and involved in political struggle.

Figen faces the rest of her life behind bars on trumped-up terrorism charges, including attending the funeral of Yasemin Ciftci, who was killed by Isis in the defence of the Kurdish enclave known as Rojava and for taking part in celebrations to mark Newroz — the Kurdish new year.

The Turkey and Kurdistan Solidarity Initiative, which was founded following a motion at the TUC Women’s Conference last month, is launching Freedom for Figen Yuksekdag — and has issued a rallying call for trade unionists and progressives to join a high-profile campaign for her release.

“On March 8 women across the world were called to rally in solidarity with Figen demanding her release from prison. By launching this campaign we hope to answer that call,” campaign spokeswoman Sarah-Jane McDonough said.

“While the name of her counterpart [former HDP co-chair] Selahattin Demirtas is well-known, Figen is virtually unheard of outside of her native Turkey.

“There are no international calls to attend her trials, no demands for her release by the European Court of Justice and no high-profile campaign for her freedom. This has to change,” she insisted.

“There was much discussion and support for the initiative at TUC women's conference and Figen’s incarceration is symbolic of the attacks on women by the misogynistic Turkish state.”

As well as Figen there are scores of Turkish and Kurdish women in Erdogan’s prisons including Gultan Kisanak and Sebahat Tuncel who were recently jailed for a combined total of 29 years, but nobody is speaking out about this.

“We need to raise the voice of these women in the face of international silence,” she added.

Ms McDonough, who is also chair of TSSA Women in Focus, called on the incoming Labour leader to back the campaign, warning that the party has not done enough in solidarity with those fighting for freedom and democracy in Turkey.

“Labour Party conferences come and go and we still have no policy on the matter,” she said highlighting a 2018 policy paper promising it would be the party of international social justice.

“The fight for genuine internationalism in the party is far from over,” she said, adding: “We need a commitment from the new leader to push further for international working-class solidarity, especially in Turkey.”

McDonough envisages a similar kind of effort to the Freedom for Ocalan campaign also supported by her union, but with a broader focus.

“Figen should be freed from prison along with the 50,000 HDP members and activists, journalists and academics held as political hostages in Erdogan’s dungeons.

She hopes the Freedom for Figen Yuksekdag campaign will raise awareness of the plight of the HDP, Labour’s sister party in Turkey, which faces massive oppression by the Turkish state.

Some 15,530 of its members and supporters have been detained, of whom 6,000 have been jailed, since the HDP won its first seat in the Turkish parliament in 2015.

Around 200 elected officials are behind bars, including seven HDP MPs. Scores of HDP elected mayors have been detained while the Turkish state has taken control of 40 of the 65 municipalities it won in last year’s local elections.

“We aim to raise awareness in the British labour movement of the attacks on women in Turkey and in particular the shutting down of democracy and oppression of the HDP and all forms of opposition.

“We are asking trade unions to support the campaign which they can do in a number of ways, including by making Figen an honorary member.”

McDonough acknowledges the difficulties posed by launching a new campaign due to the Covid-19 pandemic and said they plan to be creative.

“We will be launching a huge social media drive and have been in contact with her party and supporters both here and in Turkey.

“We will be writing letters to her in prison, encouraging people to write to MPs, asking people to make videos etc.

“We will hold hold an online rally/meeting in support of Figen and all political prisoners and demand their freedom.”

McDonough stressed the importance of backing the campaign and standing in solidarity with the women of Turkey and all of those fighting for freedom and justice against the brutal and misogynistic Turkish state.

“As long as Figen is in prison, every woman in the world is in chains,” she said.

To get involved in the campaign and to find out more email [email protected].

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