She grew up in a neighbourhood where opportunities were scarce, and where girls were more often held back than encouraged. But Songül Mutluer refused to be deterred. She was the first in her family to pursue higher education, breaking with expectations and fighting for her place. Now, as a GroenLinks-PvdA MP, she is committed to women’s rights, equal opportunities, and the fight against femicide.
When Mutluer’s phone lights up, she shows her wallpaper: a photo of her mother and five sisters. „That’s why I am so passionate about women’s rights,” she says proudly in her office in the temporary parliamentary building.
“I grew up in the disadvantaged neighbourhood of Poelenburg in Zaandam, a tough but vibrant area where social cohesion was strong and people looked out for one another. At the same time, I saw a lot of poverty, and behind closed doors, unpleasant things often happened, such as domestic violence. Fortunately, I had a loving family myself, but we also struggled financially. At fourteen, I got my first part-time job to contribute to the household. School trips that required money were out of reach for me, even though my classmates could afford them."
„My parents, first-generation migrant workers from Turkey, wanted to protect me and my sisters from what they saw as dangers. The idea of me being the first to go to university in Amsterdam was not immediately well received. I was the taboo-breaker, the strong-willed one who dared to argue with my father. After university, I wanted to move out and buy a house on my own. That, too, was unheard of at the time. I had to fight for some basic rights back then. That’s why I entered politics. I want to continue advocating for the right to exist, to do what you want.”
What does your father think of you being an MP now?
„I can only illustrate that with the story of my swearing-in ceremony. It still makes me emotional. My parents were incredibly proud. That my father, the son of a farmer, and my mother, who was not even allowed to go to school, had a child who became an MP."
„I thought: this is what you have achieved. That they raised such strong daughters and a son: one of my sisters is a doctor, three others are civil servants, and now I am an MP."
„My father, now 82, has hip problems and struggles to walk, and he was ashamed to come to Parliament using a walking stick. But there he was, walking towards me with his stick, tears streaming down his face. I embraced him, then my mother, and felt immense pride for them. I thought: this is what you have achieved. That they raised such strong daughters and a son: one of my sisters is a doctor, three others are civil servants, and now I am an MP."
Before entering politics, you studied law at the University of Amsterdam and later did a PhD at the VU Amsterdam. Did your choice of law relate to your mission?
„Absolutely. I saw in my surroundings that women’s rights were being restricted, that equal opportunities were not a given. That gave me a strong sense from an early age that I had to stand up for people’s rights. By studying law, I hoped to gain the tools to help others. I remember my first time stepping out of Amsterdam Central Station to go to university. I saw the buildings, the water, the people, and thought: this is freedom."
„After my studies, I started teaching at the law faculty at VU and was a lecturer for the postgraduate course in Procurement Law at the VU Law Academy. The campus felt like home to me. Teaching first-year students was the most rewarding thing I’ve ever done. Teaching them about private law or property law and seeing them truly understand it afterwards - I’d love to do that again."
„Once, I was waiting backstage at a debate in Amsterdam when a civil servant approached me and asked: ‘When will your alderman arrive?’ I replied: ‘I am the alderwoman.’"
„I remember that as a 25-year-old, I sometimes had to prove that I was their lecturer. But I’ve often encountered situations where I wasn’t taken seriously right away. Even later, as an alderwoman. Once, I was waiting backstage at a debate in Amsterdam when a civil servant approached me and asked: ‘When will your alderman arrive?’ I replied: ‘I am the alderwoman.’"
The passion you mentioned earlier when talking about teaching - do you feel that same drive when it comes to femicide?
„During an interview, I was once asked about my insights on femicide. I was familiar with the term ‘women’s murder’ and knew about honour killings, but I hardly knew the term ‘femicide’. That prompted me to delve into the issue. I reached out to victims’ families and survivors, consulted police officers and care institutions, and sought expertise from professors in New Zealand and England to understand how they address this phenomenon in their countries."
„Did you know that in the Netherlands, a woman is murdered every eight days on average?"
„That’s when I realised: our then-Minister of Health (Kuipers, ed.) probably has no awareness of this either. It wasn’t even on the agenda. Honour-based violence linked to culture is widely recognised, but the majority of murdered women in the Netherlands are of native Dutch origin. Did you know that in the Netherlands, a woman is murdered every eight days on average? That was a huge eye-opener for me. That’s when I thought: I’m going to tackle this. And I’ve never let go of it since."
I was shocked to read that the Netherlands ranks highest among European countries for femicide. How do you explain that?
„It’s not just about gender dynamics but also about equality. The Netherlands sees itself as a progressive country, but in reality, that’s not always the case. Although we’re not labelled a macho society, many men still dominate or belittle women to make themselves feel more powerful. The gender pay gap is a clear example - we think we’ve made more progress in that area than we actually have."
„Femicide is still classified as a ‘crime of passion’ or ‘domestic violence’, making it seem like an isolated personal issue."
„Moreover, femicide has long been overlooked because it is often not recognised as such. It is still classified as a ‘crime of passion’ or ‘domestic violence’, making it seem like an isolated personal issue rather than a structural societal problem."
While preparing for this interview, I looked online to see where I could report domestic violence or stalking, and it wasn’t clear. I also know that stalking cases are reported to the police, but due to staff shortages, action isn’t always taken. What should victims do?
„That is indeed a major issue. You can report it to 'Veilig Thuis', but they have enormous waiting lists. The problem actually starts before the report. A woman typically approaches the police only after 33 incidents of violence. Many victims then feel unheard, partly because there is no central contact point and incidents are not linked together. Domestic violence, psychological abuse, and stalking are often treated as separate events, whereas examining these patterns together would help identify red flags. If that happens in time, intervention might prevent femicide."
„I am particularly concerned about the influence of social media on young boys."
„During budget discussions, my proposal for €10 million to combat femicide was approved. Part of this will go towards creating a single point of contact that collaborates with existing organisations. Police officers will also need training. I also want a portion to be spent on education."
„I am particularly concerned about the influence of social media on young boys. Figures like Andrew Tate spread ideas about keeping women submissive. How do you think these boys will treat women in the future?"
Speaking of the ways patriarchal society manifests itself - what is it like being a woman in Parliament?
„You see subtle yet clear differences in how male MPs address female MPs in debates. Sometimes, women are treated differently, and if a woman is assertive, she is sometimes labelled ‘angry’. Additionally, issues specifically affecting women, such as femicide, are often raised by female MPs. When femicide was first discussed in Parliament, only female MPs participated in the debate."
„It shows how vital it is for women to be in Parliament. We are needed."
„On some level, it seems like it is our duty, as women, to highlight these issues. Our male colleagues don’t always recognise or acknowledge them. Fortunately, we are getting these topics on the agenda and ensuring progress, but it’s unfortunate that it has to be this way. It shows how vital it is for women to be in Parliament. We are needed."
It sounds like you draw strength from the women around you.
„That’s right. When I am with my sisters, I recharge. It feels like refilling an empty battery; the connection and love we share give me new energy. I draw strength from the women around me and from female leaders. Often, women don’t realise their potential because they’ve been held back by their surroundings or society."
„The world benefits from more female leadership."
„We women are incredibly powerful. We are capable of achieving far more than we often think. I have broken through some barriers, and I see more women doing the same. I believe that by supporting each other with positive energy, we can bring out the best in ourselves. The world benefits from more female leadership - not just in politics, but in any woman who discovers her own strength and passes it on to others. Listening to me now, I suppose I’m quite the feminist, aren’t I?”
