A 20-year-old woman committed suicide: “They stole my youth”
On the evening of 15 May, a young woman, Kübra Ergin, committed suicide at Marmaray Yenikapı station in Istanbul. Ergin, 20 years old, who committed suicide by jumping on the tracks at the Yenikapı Marmaray Station, left a letter behind her. Her friend from the same high school sent the letter to a Twitter user. The letter, which went viral on social media, revealed that Ergin was struggling with economic problems, restrictions on her freedom as a woman and the unlivable situation in the country.
On May 16, members of Student Collectives and Feminist University Students Collective protested regarding the suicide of Kübra Ergin at the Yenikapi Station. Remembering Sibel Ünli and Hakan Taşdemir, who committed suicide for similar reasons in the past, the students said “This is the life they deem appropriate for us”.
The letter left by the young woman who committed suicide reads:
“I’m tired. I’m 20 years old. They stole my entire youth, I’m so tired. I don’t know what democracy is. I miss Atatürk very much. I believed that Kılıçdaroğlu would make this country livable again. But they put all kinds of obstacles in his way. I have never felt free as a woman. Even though my family supported me in every way, I did not feel free. I have been receiving psychological support for 2 years. I was also suffering when I was a child. I couldn’t live my childhood and youth because of the people of this country. I bought a textbook for 200 liras. When I go to the market, at least 300 liras go out of my pocket. When I visit a psychologist, it costs 1000 liras. When I visit a psychiatrist, I have to pay 1000 liras for medication. When I want to take care of myself, I have to pay for sports. When I want to buy some clothes, money again. My father works from four in the morning until eight in the evening for us. Isn’t it sad for him? My mother works, but even if she were to save the money she earns, she would never be able to buy a house. I wear a skirt. Everyone stares at me, men and women. I’m an Ataturk youth. Only death can take my freedom away from me. I don’t give my blessing to the AKP and its supporters. I am 20 years old, I have nothing. Neither in terms of savings nor in terms of culture. I apologize to my family, I love you very much, please remember me well. Do not forget my ideals. My love, please take care of yourself, I love you. Melisa, you are my only friend, I love you. Don’t forget me, I have suffered a lot.”