Tell us about a giant…
Ebrar Karakurt, who is a superwoman, like a superman, who is one meter 96 tall and whose tremendous arms, how much power she has in her balls, took Turkey to the top in volleyball this year…
…as Turkey became European champions by defeating Serbia in Brussels earlier this month following the Nations League in July…
But it’s not just about the game, as Karakurt and his teammates, nicknamed the Sultans of the Net at home, symbolize the country’s strength, and extend an age-old Turkish pride; A century ago, the revolution desired by the reformer Mustafa Kemal, the founder of a secular and therefore egalitarian republic, was accomplished and of which they both testify and claim.
And this surname of the Sultan is a revenge… Since the Sultana was previously only the mother or companion of the Sultan, who had power and strength and cruelty being a man… Well now by Karakurt or by naturalized Cuban Melissa Vargas , another incredible giant, the Turkish force is of the feminine gender, and these champions are charismatic stars for their supporters whose exploits we watched on giant screens in the cities…
But still our Sultans are not unanimous.
Because Türkiye is divided! It has been led for years by a man named Recep Erdoğan, who comes from political Islamism, a populist religious nationalist who is regressed by conviction or democracy, who celebrates the greatness of the past sultanates, who gives them a sense of family and Considers conservative values in matters. morality… and its most radical, most ferocious supporters, in the press, in mosques, on social networks, curse homosexuality and the corruption of time… and for these the sultans of volleyball are enemies, profane people, profane and especially The fabulous Karakurt, with a boyish face and stylish hair, who is gay and does not hide her feminist friendship, and who has been the target of hate speech for two years – but is not afraid either, she answers…
In the middle of the competition she mocked an Internet user who told her, “As a Turkish Muslim we tolerate you.” Karakurt posted “The cowardly Abdulhamid affair”, which caused a stir because Abdulhamid was also the Internet user’s name as a surname of the last great Sultan, and therefore a sacred figure for Orthodox…
And thus a young 23-year-old woman is a symbol of the progressive camp, the cities and the secularism of the republic, and it embarrasses even the giant Erdoğan, who should be celebrating his country’s victory and not be overcome by his anger Supporters… Sports, sometimes, is really political…
And players are at the forefront of the fight…
And we will appreciate that the glory of Ebrar Karakurt comes to us at the same time as Jennifer Hermoso’s victory in Spain, kissed by the world champion against her will and which led to the departure of her attacker from the Spanish Federation.. .
But if Hermoso is a symbol of the dignity of champions, then everything Karakurt does goes beyond the feminist fight alone, it is the danger of regression throughout Turkey that is found in her, who can trust her…
We will be able to see that the feminine gender is often a revolutionary gender, and we will also be able to see that revolution is often embodied – not all the time but often – in queer women… Football-loving Virginie Despentes can’t say anything better about this Karengi I and Monica Wittig told us about it, who died twenty years ago, and we knew the strength of Billie Jean King, Martina Navratilova Megan Rapinoe Marinette Pichon … Now we know the independent Sultana Erra Karakurt , they are part of a tradition and the well is unique… on us!