CÎRAN MUHEMEDÎ

Mahabad – While suicide cases are increasing day by day in the villages of Urmia, there is a serious increase in the number of women who lost their lives but their deaths are recorded as suicide. In recent months, media outlets have reported several similar incidents in the villages around Urmia. Suicide is not a new phenomenon in Eastern Kurdistan, but the increase in suicide cases has become a dangerous issue in the region. Eastern Kurdistan has witnessed a rise in suicide rates in recent years, and these rates cause concern among people in the region. While those responsible have not done any necessary research on the causes of suicide, no report on this issue has been shared with the public yet. Political scientist Leyla Bayon answered our questions about the causes and prevention of suicides in Urmia.

What are the causes of increasing suicides in Urmia?

Psychological and social reasons can cause suicide. People often feel helpless when they face problems and cannot solve them. They think suicide is the only way in solving the problems faced by them. Child marriage also causes suicide. Victims of child marriage, particularly girls, have to carry heavy burdens. When they cannot carry these burdens, they commit suicide. Additionally, the dominant social culture does not allow the development of a good relationship between the members of a family. This situation causes the new and the old generation not to understand each other. And misunderstanding causes many conflicts in the family, and consequently, it causes suicide.”

 Why does the rate of suicide among women and girls increase in Urmia?

 In January 2022, a woman named Zahra Sabiri set herself on fire in the village of Qin. In addition, a young woman named Kaçın Fathi set herself on fire in the Racan region. On March 4, 2022, a 20-year-old woman named Cala Zahra Bema killed herself in the Sêwa region. All these women committed suicide due to conflicts with their families. Domestic conflicts cause women and girls to commit suicide.

 What is the situation of women in the Kurdistan region?

 Mirgever, Tirgever, Sumay Bradost, Silwana, Anzel, Dasht, and Sanandaj are in the Kurdistan Region, and services provided in the region are different from the services provided in the other regions. The number of women graduating from universities is higher in the Merkur region than in the places I mention above. But they face discrimination while looking for jobs. According to the data we received, the social culture in these places is different from each other. These cities are the poorest cities. Although society has made progress in terms of innovation and change, this change is not compatible with the culture in society. The old dominant culture in society rejects the change. Women are always asked to act according to the old culture.

 What are the solutions to eliminate the spread of suicides?

All those who commit suicide are young, so the infrastructure of psychological and social sciences should be established. The services provided to the region should be equal. For instance, there is no school in the village of Somay Brdost, and girls cannot continue their education. The girls cannot go to school after graduating from primary school and this causes increasing illiteracy among young women. They spend most of their time at home and get married at a young age.