Turkey has withdrawn from the İstanbul Convention with a Presidential decree published in the Official Gazette earlier today.

Abdurrahman Cens

“The withdrawal from the Istanbul Convention is a much more important step than the reconverting Hagia Sophia to a mosque,” tweeted Abdurrahman Cens, the Deputy Chairman of HÜDA PAR.

Abdullah Aslan

Abdullah Aslan, the Deputy Chairman responsible for Media Relation of HÜDA PAR, also used Twitter to share his thoughts on the Presidential decree withdrawing Turkey's signature from the İstanbul Convention.

“Let it be auspicious. Turkey has withdrawn from Istanbul Convection. From now on, protecting and promoting of the family should be our priority, and we should focus on eliminating the damage that has occurred. Male-female, mother-father-child ... there is no difference between us ... We are a family,” Aslan said.

On March 2012, Turkey became the first country to ratify the convention, which has led to a rise in divorce rates in the country.

The convention defines gender as a “social role,” which paves the way for expanded transgender rights or same sex marriage.

After the Istanbul Convention and Law No. 6284, violence against women and murders increased more than ever in Turkey, while the number of women's murders that were around 100 per year before the agreement reached 500 in recent years. (ILKHA)