2023 April Report* 

21 Femicides and 23 Suspicious Deaths of Women in April 

The fight to stop femicides in Turkey has been going on for 13 years. As the Platform, since we identified the need in 2010, we have been disclosing femicide data to the public. Instead of explaining how many women have been killed, why, how and by whom, the Ministry of Interior distorts the facts by saying that the data on femicides are incorrectly prepared. It is the duty of the state not only to disclose the reality of femicides and suspicious deaths of women but also to implement concrete solutions to stop femicides. We will continue to fight for the mobilization of all relevant ministries and mechanisms to fulfil this duty. 

5 women were killed on the pretext of wanting to take decisions about their life 

This month, 21 femicides were committed, and 23 women were found suspiciously dead. 5 women were killed on the pretext of wanting to take decisions about their own life, such as wanting a divorce, refusing to reconcile, refusing to marry, or rejecting a relationship, 2 women were killed on economic pretexts, .1 woman was killed on the pretext of an argument due to noise and 1 woman was killed on the pretext of a land dispute. The reason behind 12 femicides could not be determined. The inability to determine the excuse behind the murder of 12 women is the result of violence against women and femicides being rendered invisible. Unless it is determined by whom and why women were killed, unless a fair trial is conducted and the suspects, defendants and murderers are given deterrent punishments and unless preventive measures are implemented, violence continues to increase in size. 

We would like to share the names of the women, each of whom was a life: 

Femicide data in the month of April, by city: 

By whom were the women killed? 

Of the 21 women killed in April, 9 were killed by the man they were married to, 1 by the man she used to be married to, 1 by the man she used to be with, 2 by a relative, 3 by their son, 3 by an acquaintance and 1 by her father. This month, 43% of the women who were killed were killed by the man they were married to. 

Women were mostly killed in their homes 

11 of the women were killed at their homes, 5 in the middle of the street, 1 in a car, 1 in her workplace, 1 in a barn and 1 in a tent. 52% of the women killed this month were killed in their homes. 

Women were mostly killed with firearms 

14 of the women killed this month were killed with firearms, 5 with sharp objects and 1 by strangulation. 67% of the women killed this month were killed with firearms. 

The employment status of women still cannot be determined 

It is very difficult to determine the employment status of women. We believe that this important data should be taken into consideration by the members of the press. According to the data released by the Turkish Statistical Institute (TÜİK), the number of women ‘busy with housework’ increased by 65 thousand compared to the previous year. Thus, according to TÜİK, the number of women who were not even counted within the labour force became 9 million 982 thousand in 2022. TÜİK’s warped data is an attempt to cover up the true extent of women’s unemployment. Women who are not included in or are removed from employment become more vulnerable to the dangers of gender-based discrimination, violence, and femicide. According to the data available this month, 2 of the women were employed. The employment status of 19 of the women is unknown. 

YOU CAN’T CLOSE THE PLATFORM; YOU CAN’T STOP WOMEN! 

We were at the Çağlayan Courthouse with the relatives of the murdered women and our members for the 3rd hearing of the unlawful closure case brought against our association; We Will Stop Femicides Platform. The hearing of the case was adjourned to September 13th. We will not give up our struggle for the Istanbul Convention, for Protection Law No. 6284, and for all the women who were murdered or the truth behind their suspicious death was not revealed. On September 13th, we will be in Çağlayan for the unlawful closure case against our association. 

LONG LIVE MAY 1st, LONG LIVE WOMEN 

On May 1st, we were in Maltepe, Istanbul. We entered the Labour Day demonstration area with our Women’s Assemblies cortege with the slogan, “We will close the era of the misogynist alliance; we will vote for freedom”. Women not only participate in employment in every sector but also work extra shifts at home with their unpaid and invisible domestic labour. Women labour in all areas of life and face death in all of them too. From last May 1st to this May 1st, 13 women have been murdered by men in the workplace. Interior designer Zehra Çatal was murdered in her office. The killer was caught a month later. Ezgi Zerkin was shot dead in front of her workplace. His murderer Deniz Özaslan still has not been caught. Hülya Şellavcı was also killed at her workplace. We will not stop until femicides stop. We will continue to be in the squares, and with our struggle, we will destroy both the patriarchal and the capitalist order. 

WITH OUR STRUGGLE, WE WILL MAKE POSSIBLE THE BRIGHT DAYS WHERE CHILDREN ARE HAPPY AND WOMEN DO NOT DIE! 

It has been 100 years since April 23rd was declared Children's Day. However, neglect and abuse towards children and violations of children's rights continue. This year, three of the women killed by men and ten of the women found suspiciously dead were under the age of 18. The government, which is supposed to ensure a safe life for children, allies instead with bigoted groups that support child marriages. Perpetrators under investigation for abuse pose with the Minister of Family and Social Services, who is responsible for these investigations. This reality shows how important the upcoming elections are. We recommend you to read this article by Equity Feminism (only available in Turkish): https://www.esitlikcifeminizm.org/kadin-meclislerinden/455/kadin-dusmani-ittifakin-devrini-kapatacagiz-oylarimizi-ozgurluk-icin-kullanacagiz.  

Süleyman Soylu, the Minister of Internal Affairs, claimed that the total number of femicides was 309 in 2020 and that this number decreased to 279 in 2022 after the withdrawal from the Istanbul Convention. However, according to our data, there were 300 femicides and 171 suspicious deaths of women in 2020 and 334 femicides and 245 suspicious deaths of women in 2022. Instead of distorting the facts about the Istanbul Convention, the authorities should implement 6284 effectively and protect women. 

OUR STRUGGLE FOR EQUALITY CONTINUES 

Women have won the surname struggle they have been waging for years. The Supreme Court annulled the law in the Turkish Civil Code that prevented women from using their maiden name alone after marriage, as it was contrary to gender equality. This decision is an achievement of the egalitarian understanding we defend against the patriarchal system. We expect a similar decision from the Supreme Court for the Istanbul Convention with the same egalitarian approach. 

Law No. 6284 and Its Results  

17-year-old Jeannah Danys Dinabongholbouanga was found dead under suspicious circumstances. It was learned that Dina was forced to have sexual intercourse in exchange for money. The journalist who reported Dina running barefoot on the night of her suspicious death was detained. 

The perpetrator who sexually abused K. T. for years in Kargı, Çorum was sentenced to 31 years in prison for ‘successive sexual abuse’ and ‘deprivation of liberty’. May this decision, which was given as a result of our struggle, set a precedent. Our fight against child abuse will not stop. 

In the Ceyda Yüksel case, although the prosecutor had asked for a sentence for “willful injury”, thanks to our struggle, the court sentenced the perpetrator for “deliberate murder”. We will continue our fight for justice against the “unjust provocation” remissions. We will reveal the truth behind every suspicious death. 

İlayda Gedik, one of the volunteer lawyers of our platform, was subjected to physical violence and threat by Selim Erdoğan, the property owner of her law office. Lawyer Gedik filed a criminal complaint and requested a restraining order against Selim Erdoğan, who broke into her office. 

Suspicious deaths of women should be revealed immediately 

As we have been stating in our reports for a while, there is a very serious increase in the number of suspicious deaths of women presented as suicides or natural deaths and in the number of women who were found suspiciously dead during the pandemic. Unfortunately, shedding light on the suspicious deaths of women can be even more difficult than femicides. It is necessary to reveal whether women were killed, whether they were killed by accident, whether women were killed on the basis of gender (whether it was femicide), whether they committed suicide or whether they were driven to suicide. 

In Kilis, 9-year-old Gina Mercimek was found dead in a water well in the garden of a house with a briquette tied around her waist. The owner of the house, H. B., was detained. 

In Şırnak, 46-year-old Havva Güzel was found dead near a stream. 

In Kayseri, 43-year-old Başak Güleser was found hanged in her house. Başak Güleser was the president of the Kayseri Chamber of Landscape Architects. 

In Manisa, 26-year-old Yeşim Akbaş was found shot in the head with a gun in a police lodging. The gun's owner was identified as D. Y., a deputy commissar. D. Y. was detained but then released afterwards. 

In Istanbul, 19-year-old Italian citizen Julia Ituma died after falling from a height in a hotel. Julia Ituma had come to Istanbul for a volleyball match.  

In Antalya, 37-year-old Hatice Gercik was found dead on a rocky cliff near the sea. 

In Istanbul, 14-year-old Elif Naz S. died after falling from a 15-storey building.  

In Adana, 2-month-old Mehtap Talay was found dead at home. It was learned that her mother and father were drug users, and her father had a criminal record for drug abuse. The mother and father were arrested. 

In Erzincan, 27-year-old teacher Gülşah Ercan was found dead, hanged in her house. 

In Kastamonu, the lifeless body of 75-year-old Hayriye Çelik was found after a fire was put out in her house. 

In Aksaray, 43-year-old Selvihan Doğancı, mother of one, was found dead in her bed. 

In Mardin, 14-year-old Beritan Başar died after falling from the 6th floor. 

In Kayseri, 41-year-old Hanife Yeniçeri was found dead in her house. Her lifeless body was found after her 9-year-old child informed the neighbours. 

In Sakarya, 27-year-old nurse Dicle Naz was found dead in her house with her throat slit. 

In Samsun, 43-year-old Hayriye Çelebi was found dead, hanged in the wardrobe after having an argument with the man she was married to. 

In Denizli, 24-year-old Çilem Uram was found dead in her house, where she lived alone, by the man she was with. 

In Kütahya, 17-year-old Oya Şahin was found dead at her house by the man she was with. 

What happened regarding women in April? 

Münevver Karabulut’s family’s appeal against the rejection of their request to open the grave of Cem Garipoğlu, the man who killed Münevver and then committed suicide in prison, was rejected by the higher court. 

On the 5th anniversary of Rabia Naz Vatan’s death, a documentary titled Yokluk (Absence) about the process and our struggle after her death, was released. 

A prison sentence of up to 2 years and 4 months was requested against Hazal Kaya on the charge of insulting Musa Orhan. Hazal Kaya had shared a post in support of Ezgi Mola, who is on trial for insulting Musa Orhan. 

In Pakistan, families tried to protect their deceased female relatives from getting raped by putting iron locks on their graves. 

The stories of the life struggles of the 21 women killed in April 

In Şanlıurfa, 44-year-old Roza Göçmen was shot dead by Mervan Göçmen, the man she was married to. The perpetrator then committed suicide with the same weapon. 

In Trabzon, Sonay Gürsoy was shot dead by Turan Erdoğan in the middle of the street. The perpetrator was working as a warden, where the man Sonay was married to was imprisoned. 

In Konya, Ebru Gürpe, mother of three, was killed by Yılmaz Gürpe, the man she was in the process of divorce, on the pretext that she was cheating on him. It was learned that the perpetrator had a criminal record for theft and wounding. 

In İzmir, 56-year-old Hanife Doymuş was shot dead by her 18-year-old neighbour Diyar Y. after an argument they had over noise. 

In Hatay, a woman was killed by her father in an earthquake tent. The perpetrator was arrested. 

In Batman, 77-year-old Emine Tunç was shot dead by Emre Yel, an acquaintance. The perpetrator committed suicide after the incident. 

In Muğla, 88-year-old Suadiye Akpınar was shot dead by İbrahim Akpınar, her son. The perpetrator committed suicide after the incident. 

In İzmir, 19-year-old Zehra Kalmaz was stabbed to death by İhsan Kalmaz, the man she was in the process of divorce. The perpetrator went to an entertainment venue after the incident. The perpetrator was arrested. 

In Manisa, 46-year-old Serap Aydoğan, mother of three, was stabbed to death by Alirıza Aydoğan, the man she was married to. The perpetrator was arrested. 

In Erzurum, 57-year-old Serpil Köşebent was stabbed to death by Ahmet Yavuz Köşebent, her son. The perpetrator was detained. 

Last November, Emine Ay, a 26-year-old nurse in Karaman, was shot and seriously injured by Hüseyin Bağrıçak, her cousin, on the pretext that she rejected his marriage proposal. After six months, Emine lost her struggle for life in April. 

In Istanbul, 62-year-old Sevim Turan was shot dead by Hüseyin Turan, the man she was married to. The perpetrator committed suicide after the incident. 

In Ağrı, 50-year-old Sabiha Gündoğdu, mother of five, was killed with a fruit knife by Muhammed Gündoğdu, her son. 

In Uşak, 52-year-old Ayşe Mandal, who was bedridden, was shot dead with a firearm by Alattin Mandal, the man she was married to. The perpetrator committed suicide with the same gun. 

In İzmir, 39-year-old Recibe Koluman, mother of four, was killed with a firearm in front of her child by Kutbettin Koluman, the man she was in the process of divorce, on the pretext that she did not vacate the house he wanted to sell in order not to give her a share. The perpetrator first fired two shots and then two more shots to her head to ensure she was dead. 

In Diyarbakır, S. Ö. was strangled to death with a scarf in front of her two children by Y. Ö., the man she was married to. The perpetrator also stabbed his cousin to death. 

In Zonguldak, 36-year-old Yeşim Sönmez, mother of one, was shot dead with a firearm by Başaran Çevikoğlu, the man she used to be with and who was stalking her. 

In Tokat, 32-year-old Ebru Güneş, mother of three, was shot dead with a firearm in the middle of the street by Ahmet Göktaş, the man she used to be married to. It was learned that the perpetrator had been imprisoned because of his threats against Ebru and that she had gotten a restraining order against him. The perpetrator later committed suicide with the same gun. 

In Muğla, 46-year-old Hatice Öğüt was shot dead with a shotgun by Kamil Öğüt, the father of the man she was married to. The perpetrator then set Hatice’s body on fire. The perpetrator was detained after being caught with the murder weapon in a forest area 2 kilometres away from the scene of the crime. 

In Istanbul, 22-year-old Buket Yorgancı was shot dead with a firearm by Aydın Altay, a man she had met over the internet. It was learned that the perpetrator had 18 separate criminal records and was wanted for murder. After being caught, the perpetrator committed suicide with the same gun. 

In Gaziantep, Sakine Solmaz was killed by her throat being slit by Şıhlı Solmaz, the man she used to be married to. The perpetrator then went to Kahramanmaraş, where he shot his uncle, whom he claimed to be in a relationship with Sakine, and fled. 

*Our Report: Every month, the news on violence against women in the press includes cases, new incidents and details about the women's movement. We compile the news reflected in the press and the applications that come directly to us, reach a number and prepare our report within this framework. We analyze, compile and evaluate our Femicide Report according to the concept of femicide. In other words, the conceptualization of femicide is; “the killing or forcing into suicide of the female gender, from embryo to fetus, from infant to child, from adult to elderly, by a man, simply because of their gender or on the pretext of their actions contrary to the gender stereotypes and the perception of gender identity. Femicides should not be perceived sorely as murders in which people of the female gender are killed. In these murders committed with hatred, what is attacked is the female identity itself”