“I killed my girlfriend. » These are the first words that Filippo Turetta, 22, addressed to the German police on the evening of November 18, during his arrest. Dirty and in shock, he improvised an escape after the femicide of Giulia Cecchettin, his age, who had no longer been “his” girlfriend for several months.
A week earlier, on November 11, Giulia had met Filippo for dinner at McDonald’s. They had been together for a year, she had broken up. He was too possessive, she told her family, but accepted her request to remain friends. “I wish it would disappear”she confided to her friends in a voice message sent on WhatsApp. “At the same time he tells me that he is depressed, that he has stopped eating. (…) I would like to disappear from his life, but I feel guilty. Maybe he’s telling me all this just to stay faithful to me, but the thought of him getting hurt and it being my fault… kills me. »
On the night of November 11, Filippo Turetta attacked Giulia Cecchettin 150 meters from her home. She loses consciousness, he puts her in her car. Her body was found only a week later, at the bottom of a ravine, wounded by 26 stab wounds.
The story of Giulia Cecchettin’s death echoes that of all the victims of feminicide and has deeply moved Italy. This time, however, the echo resonates falsely.
“ For Giulia, everything burns »
In a live interview for the TV show Forehand and backhand on November 19th Elena Cecchettin, Giulia’s younger sister, shuffles all the cards.
“Filippo Turetta was called a monster”she says lucidly, looking straight into the camera. “But he’s not a monster. A monster is an exception, a person who is alien to society and for whom society has no responsibility. On the contrary, the responsibility lies with society. Monsters are not sick people, they are the healthy fruit of patriarchy and rape culture. » Elena concludes her call like this: “Not even a minute of silence for Giulia. For Giulia, everything burns. » These words, relaunched on all social networks, have inflamed Italian society.
On Wednesday, instead of the two minutes of silence in homage to Giulia Cecchettin requested by the Minister of Education Giuseppe Valditara, the students chose to make themselves heard. Two minutes of “gossip” (” noise “ in French), for women who no longer have a voice, a symptom of an anger that reverberates in schools and in the streets.
Elena Cecchettin managed not only to give a name to the events linked to her sister’s death, but it completely changed the usual narrative scheme of feminicide in Italy. Isabella Borrelli, transfeminist and LGBTQIA+ activist, spokesperson for the Italian association None of the menComments: “For the first time, the narrative regarding the victim of femicide was neither humiliating nor guilty. Elena opposed a new narrative to that of the media. And the public response has never been so strong and united. » The Italian viewer expected to hear an anguished younger sister. He found himself face to face with a tough young woman, who listed the responsibilities of the patriarchal Italian society in the death of her sister.
Elena’s appeal sparked a public debate the same week as November 25, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. The association None of the men has organized two large demonstrations for Saturday at 2pm in Rome and Messina. “We will be the voice of Giulia Cecchettin and all the other women who no longer have a voice”promises Isabella Borrelli.
Italy, a patriarchal country ?
The story of Giulia Cecchettin and the dynamics of her relationship with Filippo Turetta have contributed to opening a public debate on feminicides and patriarchy in Italy. One of six countries in Europe (with Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Bulgaria and Cyprus) that do not offer compulsory sexual and emotional education in schools. A controversial topic for reasons “social, cultural, religious and political”, according to the EduForIST 2020 report, funded by the Italian Ministry of Health. A country where, although homicides have halved in the last twenty years (711 in 2004, 314 in 2022), feminicides have remained stable. There were 72 women killed by their partners in 2004, 70 in 2022, according to data released by Istat.
On Wednesday, Italian Education Minister Giuseppe Valditara presented the “Relationship Education” plan to introduce sexual and emotional education in high schools. It will not be mandatory and requires the consent of students and their parents.
It is considered superficial and inconsistent by the “Bad Teachers” association, which has been fighting for sex education in schools for years. “In his plan the minister never talks about consensus”explains Vanessa Bilancetti, spokesperson for the association: “He never talks about sexuality or gender identity. This is not what we ask. » On his Instagram page “Bad teachers” he defines the ministry’s plan in this way “offensive compared to the widespread and transversal anger of the last few days”.
For now the government’s response is just fuel on the fire started by Elena Cecchettin.
If you or someone you know is a victim of domestic violence, or if you simply want to learn more about the topic:
- 3919 and the government website Let’s stop THE violence
- Our practical article My boyfriend hit me: how to react, what to do when you are a victim of violence in your relationship?
- The association Forward and its help chat available on How do we love each other?
Do you like our articles? You’ll love our podcasts. All our series, urgently listen to here.
Source: Madmoizelle
Mary Crossley is an author at “The Fashion Vibes”. She is a seasoned journalist who is dedicated to delivering the latest news to her readers. With a keen sense of what’s important, Mary covers a wide range of topics, from politics to lifestyle and everything in between.
