Women sat silently on the Istiklal Street, the most central street of Istanbul, in protest of the murder of the Italian artist, Pippa Bacca and “male violence.” Bacca was raped and killed in Gebze, near Istanbul.

Bacca was hitchhiking in a wedding dress from Milan to Palestine to promote “world peace” for her project named “The Bride on Tour.” She had set off from Milan on March 8. She disappeared on March 31, when she arrived in Istanbul. Her body was found nude 12 days after her disappearance, in Gebze, near Istanbul. Bacca had been raped and killed. The suspect has been arrested.

Women gathered in front of the Galatasaray High School after a call by the Feminist Kollektif. Other women, who were just passing by, stopped for a few minutes and joined the protesters, who expressed their anger and sadness through “silence.”

Women held banners that read: “Male violence, not coincidence.” Feminist activist Filiz Karakus read a press statement following the protest. “We are sad, we are worried, we are angry,” said the women, in the press statement.

Not an isolated case 

As women, who are struggling to bring an end to male violence and male dominance, we know that this murder, which is neither an isolated incident nor coincidental, will be judged under a justice system that is dominated by men and in a society that is dominated by men,” read the statement.

“Maybe the rapist will receive a slightly higher penalty due to the fact that the rape has been publicized, but our concerns as women and feminists continue and will continue.”

Government not sincere

The statement also included a response to Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who recently called on women to “have at least three children.”

“We don’t find sincere the grief of those, who are asking women to sit at home and look after three children,” read the statement.

“We are angry with all men including those who are sad, who are shedding false tears, who are ashamed, who are not ashamed, who are supporting us, who are not supporting us, whom we love. We are angry with all men who look out for the benefits provided to them by this system dominated by men, who preserve this power! We are very angry!"
Bacca had set off from Milan on March 8 for “world peace” and was headed to Tel Aviv. She disappeared after arriving in Istanbul. Her body was found in Gebze. (NZ/GG/EA/EÜ)