Meet Cilem Doğan - who has no regrets about killing her abusive husband

Guys meet my new hero Cilem Dogan.

This young woman lives in Turkey with her daughter. This week she sparked a huge interest around the world when she shot her abusive husband who tried to force her into prostitution. According to Dogan, Hasan Karabulut had abused her throughout their marriage and had told her one morning to pack her bags as he was taking her to the city of Antalya and pimping her out as a prostitute. "When I opposed, he beat me. He pushed me on the bed and the pistol under the pillow came into my mind. I grabbed it and shot him repeatedly. Then I took my daughter and left the home," Dogan told police, according to the Hurriyet Daily News.

Dogan said that one time he brought her into a forest, beat her and told her to become a prostitute. Another time he held her prisoner until her mother discovered what was happening and threatened to call the authorities. When she was released, she planned to leave him but then discovered she was pregnant and decided to stay. However the pregnancy didn't stop the beatings, nope, she claims he even beat her while she was giving birth to their daughter in the hospital. Later Dogan tried to leave again and filed for a divorce, but changed her mind when he allegedly threatened to hurt her family.

After her arrest on July 9, Dogan told investigators she felt she did what she had to do and that the incident marked the end of a long pattern of abuse, "Will women always die? Let some men die too. I killed him for my honor."  

Cases like this is not unheard of in Turkey. Approximately 40% of women in Turkey have been abused and in 2013, authorities estimated 28,000 women were abused in the country and more than 200 were killed. In 2015 alone, more than 100 women have been killed by men and shockingly enough most of them died at the hand of a relative. In other words, Turkey right now is one of the world's worst countries to be a woman.

As she was led into jail, Dogan flashed thumbs-up to the cameras and wore a shirt that read: "Dear past, thanks for all the lessons. Dear Future, I am ready." Feminists took to social media in support of Dogan, hailing her as the pride of Turkey and a hero in the fight against domestic violence.

 Even though my heart breaks for her and her little girl, I am happy for Dogan and I really hope that all this media attention will help to lessen her sentence. Though I highly doubt it as the country is ran by the biggest sexist asshole.

 I just hope that someday Cilem Dogan and every women like her will be freed, protected and helped to rebuild their life in a dignified and autonomous way.

This week's must watch: Rap Against Rape

This is the BEST thing I've seen on the internet in a very very long time!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H3iwXGGGYGY 

Pankhuri Awasthi and Uppekha Jain, two women from India are speaking out about rape culture and sexism with the hashtag #RapAgainstRape. In the epic video the duo rap about the country's attitude towards women while holding up placards with words written on them, such as #domesticviolence #shame #objectification #criminalsinparlimant and #rape.

They covered every issue, from the country's current state:

"We're now known as the land of rapes 

But did you ever wonder, how this took shape 

Don't shy away now, you're a part of this culture 

Of lawyers who will kill 

and politicians who ban our will 

and all the other Blood-sucking vultures 

We're a land of ironies 

and of rampant misogyny 

Stop that tweet 

And actually get on your feet 

And help reform this mindset 

That for years has been preset 

That our women are nothing more than objects 

To be controlled, shut-up and used for sex"

to the crimes committed against women every single day:

"When a girl who's been raped, has to hide her face 

And then that same society 

makes a porn star their celebrity 

To teach women obedience there's domestic violence 

But no one will report it 

They're meant to absorb it with silence 

On that crowded train today, are you sure – you didn't see the man 

Who thought that under my tee-shirt he would rest his hand 

Didn't it boil your blood enough for you to take a stand 

Or did you just let it be 

Because I was stupid enough to be akeli?"

to how the consent and clothing choices of the women doesn't mean s_it:

"I'll wear what I want – even if its mini 

It's only a dress 

Don't for a second think it's a yes"

and how we should carve a new way:

"I'll work at home or outside, tackling misogyny with pride 

Gone are the times we stayed abused and broken 

And behind closed doors we cried

It's about time to change the tide and for you to get on our side 

Help us bring in a new day – for you, for me, for us 

Let's carve a new way"

The video has already gained over 50,000 views!!

But the big question is - Do these videos actually help?

I think yes, sure it doesn't bring a massive change but it plays a part. The use of social media plays a huge part as it helps give people a voice, a voice to speak up and make a difference.

And that is exactly what Uppekha Jain says, "Doing something is better than doing nothing about women's safety in India." 









credits: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-31938381 
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