Kurdish Woman Threatened with Death and Rape

IHD deputy head Reyhan Yalcindag said Mintas was kidnapped, a gun was put in her mouth and she was threatened with becoming missing and with rape. Yalcindag said Mintas also faced sexual violence and insults. She also reminded that Gulbahar Gunduz, the Istanbul head of DEHAP Women's Branches, was kidnapped by security forces and was raped a couple of months ago.

"You cannot fight the state," the security forces told Mintas, according to Yalcindag. "If you don't act together with us from now on, think about what will happen to you. Don't go to DEHAP ever again," they told Mintas.

"This makes clear who is responsible of the kidnapping," said Yalcindag.

Yalcindag said they would seek legal action for the crime.

"The address of those responsible is clear," She said. "The society and humanity is responsible of the physical and sexual violence against women."

According to her, on December 9, 2003, police intervened as Mintas tried to make a press statement and deliver petitions to the governor's office for "education in mother tongue." Some people were hurt during the intervention and Mintas was one of them.

On that same day, Mintas left the DEHAP building around 6 p.m. She was forced into a white car as she was walking on the street. The lights of the car were turned off. Someone closed her eyes with his hands. A gun was put in her mouth.

She was forced to open her mouth and threatened with urinating in her mouth. One of the men showed her his penis and she was threatened with rape. Her neck was injured with a knife. She was threatened with becoming missing and being killed and with rape. She went through sexual violence and insults.

Mintas also added that the people in the car told her: "You cannot fight the state. If you don't act together with us from now on, think about what will happen to you. Do not go to DEHAP ever again." (BB)