Women Are Against Sending Their Sons To The Army For Military Service

Bianet asked women if they would like to send their sons to the army to do their military service after the Aktütün assault, the Diyarbakır attack on a police bus and Altınova lynch attempt.

Ayça Şen: If it was up to me, I would not

Ayça Şen, a columnist for daily Radikal, who sometimes invites her son to her column, asks, “Who would want to send her son into the middle of violence?”

“I would not? Who would? If it was up to me, I would not. It does not matter whose son it is, it is very bad.”

Derya Alabora: Solution will come to one who wants it. They do not want a solution.

Derya Alabora says nobody would send her son to the army, but they have to do it. She has one son.

“There are thousands of ways to solve the problem. Solution will come to one who wants it. They do not want a solution.”

When we asked what kind of contribution the women may make, her answer was:

“Insisting on women's perspective does not offer a solution either. The problem is with the system. It does not look possible that the women can solve this problem alone.”

Zeynep Tanbay: I do not want them to teach my son how to use a weapon

Tanbay’s reply is clear: “Not only under these conditions, but under no conditions I would not want to send my son to the army.

Tanbay supports the conscientious objectors and she does not want anyone to teach her son how to use a weapon.

She also asks why only the sons of the poor families are dying in this war.

Her ten year old son agrees with her mother, but says the decision not to go to the army should be his and he says he would not, if they would ask him. 

Jale Aytaç: As women, we are against war under any condition 

Doctor Aytaç says she does definitely not want to send her son to the army. 

“As women, we are against war under any condition. They have been trying to solve this problem by military means for thirty years now. Everyone sees the outcome. We have to try something else now.” 

Hülya Avşar: This problem will be solved by mothers who say no 

Hülya Avşar, a member of the Association of Businesswomen of Turkey (TİKAD), says, “Terror will be finished by the mothers of the terrorists and the mothers of the martyrs. As long as mothers say no, neither the State, nor the weapons, nor the USA can make it continue.”

The TİKAD has announced a plan for an organization named “We Are All Mothers”, which will be held in November with the slogan “Women Are Taking Over”. They plan to invite the wives of the President, the Prime Minister and the military commanders, the women representatives of the non-governmental organizations and the women of the world. They also plan to have seminars about the issue all around Turkey. (EZÖ/TK/TB)