?? In the previous post, I shared my personal experience in the safety of this country. However, there is insecurity in Turkey as well. Not always it might be completely safe to roam freely without any consequence. Here I present to you some stories of my own and some that I've heard about.
?? En la entrada anterior, compartí mi experiencia personal en la seguridad de este país. Sin embargo, también existe inseguridad en Turquía. No siempre será completamente seguro caminar libremente sin alguna consecuencia. Aquí te presento algunas historias mías y de otras personas que he escuchado.
Table of Contents
Femicide, insecurity for women
?? On October 11 of 2019, I was walking in the zone of Beyoğlu in Istanbul. I walked during the night, happily to know that I could do it during the night and there wasn't any danger. But, I eyes caught my attention about something strange.
?? El 11 de Octubre de 2019, estaba caminando por la zona de Beyoğlu en Estambul. Caminé por la noche contento porque podía hacerlo sin preocuparme de algún peligro. Pero, mis ojos captaron algo extraño.
Speechless Wall
?? I saw in the facade of a building, womens' shoes hanged in the wall. There were many of them and it occupied two walls, from top to bottom. All shoes, had tremendous good lighting. As I stepped closer, I realized this was a memorial.
?? Vi en la fachada de un edificio zapatos de mujeres colgados en el pared. Había muchos de ellos y ocupaban 2 paredes, desde arriba hasta abajo. Todos los zapatos, estaban super bien iluminados. Cuando me acerqué, me di cuenta que era un memorial.
?? I came closer to a sign called “İSİMSİZ” (UNTITLED). This was a memorial about 440 women, who lost their lives during 2018 alone. Apparently, they were killed by men, just due the fact they were women. I remained in silence for a while, thinking about the suffering that this caused to 440 families and counting. Did this men received the whole weight of the law? Such insecurity these women will feel in this country.
?? Me acerqué a un letrero que decía “İSİMSİZ” (SIN TÍTULO). Éste es el memorial sobre 440 mujeres, que perdieron su vida sólo en 2018. Aparentemente, fueron asesinadas por hombres solamente por ser mujeres. Permanecí en silencio por un rato, pensando en el sufrimiento que esto causó a más de 440 familias. ¿Recibieron estos hombres todo el peso de la ley? Qué inseguridad sentirán las mujeres en este país.
Femicide Memorial
?? You can read further about this memorial going to their webpage or visiting their Instagram profile.
?? Puedes leer más acerca de este memorial visitando su página web o visitando su perfil de Instagram.
Insecurity story: Baggage theft
?? My girlfriend visited Turkey the first time during summer of 2015 with her aunt and 2 female cousins. It was hot (above 35ºC) in Istanbul. They were tired of the trip and they were also lying on a park near the Bosphorus. My girlfriend carried in her backpack:
- Passport.
- Cash.
- Credit Cards.
- DSLR Camera.
- Cellphone.
?? Mi enamorada visitó Turquía por primera vez durante el verano de 2015 con su tía y 2 primas. Estaba caliente (sobre los 35ºC) en Estambul. Ellas estaban cansadas del viaje y estaban echadas en un parque cerca del Bósforo. My enamorada tenía en su mochila:
- Pasaporte.
- Dinero.
- Tarjetas de Crédito.
- Cámara DSLR.
- Teléfono Celular.
But Insecurity was around the corner…
?? 2 foreign girls (under 12 years old) approached to my girlfriend asking for directions. She said “I don't speak turkish“. Meanwhile, one of her cousins saw a little girl running with a backpack and she shouted: “Isn't that backpack yours?!“. It was! So all of them run to the little girl who stole the backpack and grab it back. One of the cousins who actually spoke turkish, with all her lungs, yelled at them and told them to get lost!
?? 2 niñas extranjeras (menores de 12 años) se acercaron a mi novia preguntando por direcciones. Ella dijo “No hablo turco“. Mientras tanto, una de sus primas vio una niña corriendo con una mochila y gritó “¿No es esa tu mochila?“. Lo era! Así corrieron todas donde estaba la niña que robó la mochila y lo tomaron otra vez. Una de las primas que sí hablaba turco, con todos su pulmones, les mandó al carajo y que desaparecieran.
Escorting Women because of a Insecurity Awareness
?? During a time period while I was in Turkey (perhaps January 2020) there were reports of women being killed around the whole country. Perhaps due femicide. Naturally, women that I knew began to worry about getting out.
?? Durante un período de tiempo cuando yo estaba en Turquía (tal vez enero de 2020) habían reportes de mujeres asesinadas alrededor del país. Probablemente por feminicidio. Naturalmente, mujeres que yo conocía empezaron a preocuparse al salir.
?? In two circumstances, a female turkish friend asked me if I could escort her to her dormitory. Once, after a party in a disco (around 1am). The next time, it was around 7pm in the evening in weekdays. Although I was walking with her in the middle of the night, there was nothing to worry about but that's my point of view. Apparently, in herself there was this “just in case” justification.
?? En 2 circunstancias, una amiga turca me pidió que la escolte hasta su dormitorio. La primera vez, después de una fiesta en la discoteca (alrededor de 1am). La siguiente vez, alrededor de 7pm de un noche entre semana. A pesar de que yo caminaba con ella en medio de la noche, no había nada de que preocuparse pero ese era mi punto de vista. Aparentemente, dentro de sí misma era una justificación “por si acaso”.
?? But even now, in the middle of 2020, the reports of femicide have increased to the quantity of 1 murder per day in Turkey. Not good.
?? Pero incluso ahora, en la mitad del 2020, hay reportes de feminicidio que han incrementado a 1 asesinato por día en Turquía. Nada bueno.
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