When 20 school children made a flag from their own blood by pricking their finger every day over several weeks, and then sent the flag to the General Staff, Chief of General Staff Yasar Büyükanit showed the flag to the press and expressed his approval.

Women condemn militarism 

Now women have reacted to this encouragement of nationalism and militarism; within three days, 418 women signed a common statement. A protest is planned for Sunday, 27 January.

The text reads as follows:

“We, the undersigned women, protest against Chief of General Staff Yasar Büyükanit’s approval of children making a flag from their blood.”

“We object to the fact that the leader of the armed force which holds the legal power to kill and make others kill sanctifies blood and war by praising pupils who say ‘Our hands should be holding a gun rather than a pen.’

“We oppose the racist, nationalist and militarist mentality which encourages high school students to make a flag from their blood, and makes them say ‘We want to join the army’ and ‘We want to become martyrs’. This mentality is not only produced and fed by the General Staff, but by many institutions, especially educational ones.”

We reject such a mentality because militarism and nationalism feed male dominance and are based on misogyny. It increases male violence against women and legitimises it. This menas forced motherhood, forced migration and poverty and shapes the male gender.”

Support for Magden and Temelkuran

The women also expressed their support for journalists Perihan Magden and Ece Temelkuran, both of whom were attacked by the Tercüman newspaper for criticising Büyükanit’s mentality. (EÜ/TK/AG)