No laughing matter in Turkey

In a speech by Turkey’s Deputy Prime Minister, Bulent Arinc, earlier this week on issues of ‘moral corruption’  he made the statement that has since become the talk of social networks.
Arinic’s controversial speech has been seen by many as a clear blow against women’s rights in Turkey He went on to say that: “Women spend too much time on telephones discussing minor things such as recipes and should in future, reserve these conversations for when they (women) meet face-to-face.”
As if that was not enough he added: “Where are our girls, who slightly blush, lower their heads and turn their eyes away when we look at their face, becoming the symbol of chastity?”
Arinic’s speech highlighting bigotry and anti-feminine views has caused the women of Turkey to respond with an overwhelming response from women in high profile positions. Women across the nation have been taking ‘selfie’ photographs as well as all-women group photographs laughing and smiling at the leader and posting on social media sites.
The men of Turkey stood alongside their female friends, family and partners by including themselves in the ´smile, happy, laughter´ photo response, as did Mr Ekmeleedin Ihsanoglu who is running against the current Prime Minister. he said: “Turkey needs women to laugh and the country needs to hear laughter more than anything.”
One of the greatest UK female political activist campaigners of the 20th century, Emmeline Pankhurst succeeded in making landmark history for freedom and equality, helping women gain the right to vote.
Having witnessed Arinic’s speech and seeing the response on line from women in Turkey and further afield let us recite a few words of her speech titled ‘Freedom or Death’ spoken on November 13 1913. “We women, in trying to make our case clear, always have to make as part of our argument, and urge upon men in our audience the fact – a very simple fact – that women are human beings.”
With Arinc’s speech attracting a world-wide audience he seems to have, directly or indirectly, ‘belittled’ women in his words and ‘inferred’ male command.
Three of the Costa’s leading power women in business have spoken out against Arinc’s speech whilst supporting women not only in Turkey but globally.
EuroWeekly News Managing Director Michel Euesden, one of the Costa’s leading business women, responded to Arinic´s speech by saying: “It is every woman’s right to laugh when she wants to. In the words of Emmeline Pankhurst ‘Men make the moral code and they expect women to accept it. They have decided that it is entirely right and proper for men to fight for their liberties and their rights, but that it is not right and proper for women to fight for theirs’.”
Michel went on to say: “We no longer accept this type of suppression, times have changed and Mr Arinic should step into the modern free world arena where equality outweighs male domination tactics. His words, his speech and his stance have left his own people laughing at him, let alone the rest of us!”
President and founder of the Costa’s Helicopteros Sanitarios, Maria Jose Canete Sanchez speaking direct to EuroWeekly News said: “Turkish women should laugh all day long and seduce whom they please, just like Turkish men do and men from all countries for that matter. Nobody has the right to limit someone else’s freedom, neither a man nor woman.
“Men and women freely choose whom they marry, whom they are loyal to and whom they love, and they deserve all the respect in the world. In Turkey there are too many cars and too many mobile phones says Mr Bulent Arinc. Well, let us take away his car, his phone and his lovers as a provisional measure.”
Nicole King from Mi Marbella’s radio station told EuroWeekly News: “They cannot stop me laughing. If I am not laughing I would be crying! It is what I am – everyone tells me I am a funny person, but to me that is just normal.”

Arinc’s speech came just days before the future President of the EU Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, warned all countries within the union to produce more female representatives to ensure a fair and equal balance between men and women on the executive.