Þehbal Þenyurt, an independent candidate for Muðla in the upcoming 12 June general elections, aims to be the common voice of both Turkish and Kurdish women. Þenyurt, as a portrait from DIHA News Agency underlines, has been producing documentary films in Palestine. She is also part of minorities in Turkey.

"The only manifesto for women for this election was that made by the Peace and Democracy Party (BDP). Only for this point I can say I feel part of the BDP", Þenyurt said answering DÝHA’s questions.

"I tried to express my feelings and ideas through my documentaries. But now, Turkey finds itself in a very critical period. A period in which everyone needs to do their full share of work without ‘buts.’ Besides, the low number of women in political life must be increased. I believe that women are the starting points in every dimension. I would like to be part of this change” said Þenyurt.

Brought up in a multi-cultural environment, she said that she will try to gather all people from different ethnic origins since living together would be impossible without understanding others or developing empathy with others and added: “During the 90’s, the mass media were blind, deaf and dumb when covering the stories in Turkey. Thousands of villages were emptied and millions of Kurdish people had to emigrate leaving behind their villages. I wanted to make a documentary about them. Being a candidate is also a way to pay what I should to these people who I was so impressed with because of their long struggle. I believe that Kurdish women improved a lot and will be pioneer for Turkish women.“

Þehbal Þenyurt was born in 1962 in Giresun. She worked for many years as reporter for some local newspapers in Giresun, graduated from Ankara University Journalism School, began to make documentary movies, had to leave Turkey during 80 coup d’etat.

She took part in human rights struggle in Turkey after coming back to Turkey.