09/08/2023 | Writer: Selma Koçak
“Our gender, our religious beliefs, our sexual orientation and much more are of only our business”
Evin Demirhan, the athlete with the most medals in the history of women’s wrestling in Turkey, told T24 about her wrestling adventure began in Siirt and opened up to the world by overstepping the bounds of the country.
National wrestler Evin Demirhan, the first World and European champion from Turkey, spoke to Berna Abik from T24. Replying Abik’s question regarding the homophobic campaign targeting national volleyball player Ebrar Karakurt, Demirhan said: “Our gender, our religious beliefs, our sexual orientation and much more are of only our business.”
The relevant part of the interview is as follows:
“Our gender, our religious beliefs, our sexual orientation and much more are of only our business!
When it comes to the relationship between women and sports, the only thing to mention are the steps we have taken, the distance we have covered and the doors we have opened.
The only thing we aim to portray is a HUMAN, who succeeded in representing their country with pride through endless efforts, determination, and steadfastness on behalf of their country, their flag and for everyone who has dreamed about this achievement.
This is what we offer to the whole world, what we want to tell you and what we share with all of you.”
Ebrar Karakurt is targeted by the governmental press
Turkey’s national women’s volleyball team won the FIVB Volleyball Nations League by beating China 3-1 in the final clash played at the College Park Center in Texas, the US on July 17, and became the world champion for the first time.
Yeni Akit targeted Ebrar Karakurt, one of the players of the Turkey’s National Women’s Volleyball Team, which has won the world championship, by saying “Homosexual pervert.”
In its hate article, Akit targeted Karakurt with the words “homosexual pervert” and claimed that Karakurt’s post on social media after the World Cup had “imposed a perverted lifestyle”.
Karakurt’s post on social media is a citation from a poem by İsmet Özel titled "Mataramda Tuzlu Şu" (Salty Water in My Cantoon): “On my neck, jewelries made of the shames of those who declared me guilty”, that is to say the golden medal.
Supports for Ebrar
Sportif Lezbon, May 17 Association and Kaos GL Association issued a joint-statement after Ebrar Karakurt was targeted by Yeni Akit by saying “homosexual pervert”.
The joint-statement underlines that sports “is a huge and colorful field for religion, language, race, sexual orientation and all sorts of gender identities.”
Full text of the joint-statement is as follows:
“Sports is a magical experience that brings people together. All identities and existences are an inseparable part of this. As LGBTI+ athletes, we are proud of who we are and we exist on the field of play with honour! And we raise our voices at the highest level against those, who choose to target LGBTI+ athletes, instead of celebrating our success.
You cannot hinder our existence and discredit the medals on our necks!
Sports is a huge and colorful field for religion, language, race, sexual orientation and all sorts of gender identities. Let’s continue to defend the sports and the spaces it provides for the benefit of us all!
National taekwondo player Kübra Dağlı also supported Ebrar Karakurt. Dağlı shared a post on her Threads account saying “It should not be too difficult to put aside the sexual orientation, preferences or religious attitudes of the athletes and just congratulate them on their success.”
Tags: women, life
