2022 March Report* 

24 Femicides and 19 Suspicious Deaths of Women in March 

The fight to stop femicides in Turkey has been going on for 12 years. As the platform, since we identified the need in 2010, we have been disclosing femicide data to the public. The Ministry of Interior, on the other hand, distorts the facts by saying femicide data were prepared incorrectly, instead of disclosing how many women were killed as well as why, how and by whom. Along with explaining the reality of femicides and suspicious deaths of women, it is the duty of the state to implement concrete solutions to stop femicides. We will continue to fight for the mobilization of all relevant ministries and mechanisms to fulfil this task. 

The reason behind 12 femicides could not be determined 

This month, 24 femicides were committed, and 19 women were found suspiciously dead. The reason behind 11 of the 24 femicides could not be determined. 12 women were killed on the pretext of wanting to make decisions about their own life, such as wanting a divorce, refusing to reconcile, refusing to marry, or rejecting a relationship, and 1 woman was killed on economic pretexts. The inability to determine the excuse behind the murder of 11 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, the accused, and the murderers are given deterrent punishments and preventive measures implemented, violence continues to increase in size. 

Femicide data in the month of February, by city: 

We would also like to share the names of the women: 

By whom were the women killed? 

Of the 24 women killed in March, 11 were killed by the man they were married to, 2 by a relative, 2 by the man they used to be with, 2 by the man they used to be married to, 1 by her father, 1 by her son, 1 by somebody she didn't know and 1 by the man who was stalking her. This month, 46% of the women who were killed were killed by the man they were married to. 

Women were mostly killed in their homes 

15 of the women were killed at their home, 3 in the middle of the street, 2 on a waterfront, 1 in a car, 1 at her workplace, 1 in an hotel and 1 the parking lot of a shopping mall. 63% of the women killed this month were killed in their homes. 

Women were mostly killed with firearms 

10 of the women killed this month were killed with firearms, 9 with sharp objects and 4 by strangulation. It could not be determined with which weapon one woman was killed. 

The employment status of women still cannot be determined 

It is very difficult to determine the employment status of women. We believe that the members of the press should include this important data. According to the data announced by the Turkish Statistical Institute (TÜİK) this month, the number of women who were absent from the labour force due to their domestic labour was 9 million 770 thousand. Again, according to TÜİK, the number of women who were not included in the labour force is 21 million 375 thousand in the fourth quarter of the year (October-November-December). TÜİK's warped data is trying 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 obtained this month, 5 of the women were employed. The employment status of 19 of the women is unknown. 

Is it always women who fall from a height? 

Since 2021, 55 women have died after suspiciously falling from a height. 20% of the suspicious deaths of women occur by them falling from a height. It is not a coincidence that women have been dying by falling from a height, and the man they were with or married to or used to be with, are at the crime scene, that most have had a history of violence in their relationships, and that they wanted to end the relationship. We know that only by conducting an effective investigation can suspicious deaths of women can be prevented. We will follow the investigation and prosecution processes to reveal suspicious deaths. We will continue to fight until there are no suspicious deaths of women. 

Ece Kılıçaslan suspiciously fell from a height and lost her life. It was learned that Erol Acar, the man she was married to, who had previously used violence against her and whom she had a restraining order against, was at the crime scene. Her family, who wanted her suspicious death to be revealed, called our hotline as soon as they learned about the incident. 

We called for a protest in front of the house where Ece Kılıçaslan died in Istanbul. The family of the suspect contacted the police to prevent us from making a public statement, afraid that the suspect would be detained again. Instead of stopping the family of the suspect, the police tried to stop our protest. The fact that the law enforcement officers stand with the suspects and perpetrators instead of the women is one of the reasons why the family applied to us. We will reveal the suspicious deaths of women, and we will continue to take action in places where women died suspiciously and will be with their families and relatives in court. 

Women are Killed for Making Decisions about Their Lives, Judiciary System Pats the Perpetrators on the Back 

The promises made by President Erdogan while talking about judicial reform, who withdrew from the Istanbul Convention in one night, are not accepted by women. The promises of the government remain unreliable as they don't implement the existing laws, Law No. 6284, don't take any action against those who do not implement the laws and withdraw from the Istanbul Convention. While the President made these promises, the Regional Court of Justice overturned the decision given to Sadife Yüzer's murderer because the reduced sentence he got with a "good conduct abatement" was not reduced enough. The Supreme Court justifies reducing the sentence of Hatice Kaçmaz's murderer by saying that she might not have been killed if she had accepted his marriage proposal. In the case of Sedef Berberoğlu, the Supreme Court reversed the decision for the second time, saying that the reducement in the sentence was not low enough since "unjust provocation reduction" was not applied. The judiciary system continues to acquit the perpetrators and pat the killers on the back. 

While women are killed because they want to make decisions about their lives and live freely, the decisions made by the judiciary system are not acceptable. According to the data we released this month, 12 of the 24 women were killed on the pretext of wanting to make decisions about their lives, such as wanting to divorce or end the relationship, refusing to be in a relationship or jealousy. Our fight will continue against these decisions that legitimize these excuses and say, "women do not even have a say over their own lives", and no woman will ever walk alone!  

In 4 of the femicides this month, the perpetrators also injured the women who tried to stop them. Fatma Gümüş was killed while she tried to stop Abdullah K., who attempted to kill her daughter and whom she had gotten a protection order against. 

The perpetrators target not only the women but also the ones who stand with the women and try to prevent them. The authorities who do not create preventative policies and who give sentence reductions to perpetrators are the ones who give courage to the perpetrators. Our fight will continue against every officer who does not protect women. 

After withdrawing from the Istanbul Convention, the government is now talking about women's rights and reform. The fact that the government feels obligated to show it is taking concrete steps is a result of the organized women's movement. 

It is clear that the legislative proposal the government terms "reform" is not a solution to violence against women. The solution to violence against women is the Istanbul Convention and the effective implementation of Law No. 6284. We will neither give up on the Istanbul Convention nor our rights. It is the Istanbul Convention, not the for show legislative proposal, that keeps women alive! 

All over Turkey and the world, we were in squares 

On the 8th of March International Women's Day, women all over Turkey and the world met in squares with the slogan "We will neither live on the brink of poverty nor under the shadow of violence. You will never walk alone!". In various cities, women and LGBTIQ+s met with the slogan, "We will end violence and exploitation. We will live equally and freely". 

Law No. 6284 and Its Results  

Law No. 6284 regulates many measures, including restraining orders and protection measures. It provides women with many rights, from economic empowerment to changing their identity information. It entered into force as the result of the years-long fight by women's organizations. If Law No. 6284 is implemented effectively, it protects women. The enactment of Law No. 6284 only became possible after Istanbul Convention was signed. 

In the case of Sedef Berberoğlu, the Supreme Court overturned the life sentence because an "unjust provocation reduction" was not applied, and the sentence was reduced to 24 years. The Supreme Court also found 24 years too long. The new decision was also overturned, stating the discount was not enough. 

The life imprisonment sentence given to Ali Rıza Yüzer, who shot and killed Sadife Yüzer with a rifle when she was 6.5 months pregnant, was overturned by the Konya Regional Court of Justice 1st Penal Chamber. The Criminal Division sent the file back to the local court, stating that an "unjust provocation reduction" should also be applied to the perpetrator, who was also given a "good conduct" reduction. 

In the case of Orhan Munis, who had tied a knife on his wrist before meeting Hatice Kaçmaz, who he killed on the pretext of her refusing to marry him, the Supreme Court rejected the letter of notification stating he should be charged with premeditated murder and given a life sentence. The Supreme Court justified the reduction by stating, "If she had accepted her marriage proposal, the perpetrator might not have committed the murder. 

In the case of Merve Kotan, which we have been following since the beginning, the man who killed Merve on the pretext of jealousy was charged with premeditated murder and given a sentence without any reductions. After fighting for years, an aggravated life sentence was given by the Supreme Court. It will not be discriminatory reductions, but this decision given without a reduction will set a precedent! 

In the case regarding the disappearance of Gülistan Doku on the 5th of January 2020, the suspect Zaynal Abakarov, who was the last person she met before her disappearance, was taken into custody as part of the investigation carried out by the Tunceli Chief Public Prosecutor's Office. The suspect was released with judicial control after interrogation. If an effective investigation had been carried out from the beginning, it would have been revealed what happened to Gülistan and who her perpetrators were. 

In the murder case of Pınar Gültekin, Mertcan Avcı, the brother of the murder suspect who was arrested for "participating in the crime of killing with a monstrous feeling, torment and design", was released. It was determined from the phone signals that Cemal Metin Avcı's brother Mertcan Avcı was in the vineyard at the same time as the perpetrator. 

We were at the Gaziantep Courthouse for 17-year-old Duygu Delen, who died suspiciously after falling from a height on the 13th of August 2020 in Gaziantep. Mehmet Kaplan, who was at the house, was arrested. Defendant Mehmet Kaplan was acquitted of murder and released. He was sentenced to 10 years for looting and fined 1800 TL for defamation. This decision is far from revealing the truth about Duygu Delen's suspicious death. We will get justice for Duygu Delen. 

Figen G. was thrown out from the 3rd floor by the man she was married to. The final hearing was held in March. It was determined the perpetrator had violently battered Figen G. 15 days before the incident. The defendant was sentenced to 17 years in prison for "attempting to deliberately kill his wife". Figen was thrown from a height but survived. So she was able to tell who the perpetrator was. We will continue to fight for this decision to be a precedent. 

Selma Taşkafa was killed in Bursa with a firearm by the man she was with. The accused was given a life sentence. However, the Court of Appeal reversed the decision. Citing his defence "she spat in my face and said she has feelings for someone else", his penalty was reduced to 18 years by applying an "unjust provocation reduction". 

All these examples show how vital the full and effective implementation of the Istanbul Convention and Law No. 6824 is for women. For the effective protection of women, injunctions should be implemented, the process should be followed, all units of the state should protect women's rights, and public officials who do not fulfil their duties should be punished. 

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. 

The suspicious deaths of 19 women that took place in March should be enlightened as soon as possible. Actions needed to be taken in this regard are quite clear; the decision to withdraw from the Istanbul Convention should be reversed, the Protection Law No. 6284 and the Istanbul Convention should be implemented effectively and holistically by all institutions and organizations. Investigations into the suspicious deaths of women should be carefully examined and concluded quickly. 

Ebru Cızdan died after suspiciously falling from the roof of a hotel in Istanbul. It was learned that Ebru Cızdan and Özgür Aydoğan, the man she was with, had an argument on the street shortly before the incident, and the suspect had dragged Ebru on the ground. 

65-year-old Yıldız Gül, was found dead in her home after withdrawing her salary. It was learned that on her way home, Yıldız had hit her head on an iron bar during a discussion. 

In Antalya, 47-year-old Irene Konningen died after falling from the balcony of İ.B., the man she was with. İ.B was released after the prosecutor's office took his statement. 

19-year-old Özge Binnur Oruç died after suspiciously falling from a residence in Istanbul. It was revealed that Özge Binnur Oruç did not live in the residence, and there was no record of her guest entry. It was learned that before the incident, Özge had an argument with R.Ş.S, the man she was with. 

In Istanbul, 28-year-old Sümeyye Akdar was found dead in her room. It was learned that Sümeyye Akdar had an argument with Rafik İ., the man she was married to and Rafik İ. had nail marks on his neck. It was revealed that Sümeyye Akdar also had nail marks on her cheek. The suspect, who was brought to court, was released on the condition of judicial control. 

In Istanbul, 28-year-old Ece Kılıçarslan Acar died in the hospital, where she was brought with injuries after falling from a balcony. It was revealed that E. Acar, the man she was married to, had threatened Ece, saying "you smeared detergent on my gun", and Ece had filed a complaint and gotten a restriction order against him for 2 months. Ece Kılıçaslan Acar's family said they suspect the death to be murder rather than suicide or falling from a height. The suspect E. Acar was released on the condition of judicial control. 

In Van, Sinem Dinçer died in the hospital where she was taken as she was seriously injured after allegedly committing suicide. It was learned that for 7 years, Sinem was constantly subjected to violence by Melik Dincer, the man she was married to, and she had formed a complaint twice. It was stated that Sinem decided to get a divorce, but she was dissuaded from the decision after being threatened by Melik Dincer. According to the testimonies of the witnesses on the day of the incident, Sinem was dragged by three people around her house. It was also revealed that she was sexually harassed by V.D., the man who was the uncle of Sinem's child. 

In Kayseri, 40-year-old Esma Bal, whose relatives had reported her missing, was found shot dead in a cemetery. 

What happened regarding women in March? 

The movie Bergen, which tells the life story of the singer Bergen, was not played in the theatres in the Kozan district of Adana, the hometown of Halis Özgür, who threw nitric acid on the singer's face and then killed her. 

Orchestra Content, Bergen's family and the artists who volunteered on the album donated the album "Bergen Saygı" to the We Will End Femicides Platform. 

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said, "Femicides in our country are significantly lower than most European countries.". Erdoğan claimed they had increased women's employment from 6 million to 10 million. He also claimed they had encouraged the education of girls, and "we have almost removed this issue as a problem". 

Afghan women continue to lose their rights day after day. In Taliban-ruled Afghanistan, women will no longer be able to travel by plane without a male companion. 

In Diyarbakir, 24 women, including members of the Rosa Women's Association, were taken into custody after a raid on their homes. It was claimed that the reason behind their detention was the activities they carried out for the 8th of March International Women's Day. 

The Union of Academic Chambers of Manisa awarded the "Social Responsibility Project Achievement Award" to our Manisa representative Semiha Hasgör and the "Education Volunteers Achievement Award" to our member and the chief of the Manisa Hafsa Sultan neighbourhood Zuhal Güneş. 

Haydar Akın, the principal of a secondary school in Bursa, sent a letter to the teachers requiring the male and female students to sit at separate desks. For this reason, he was suspended from his post as a result of an investigation. 5 days after the suspension, Haydar Akın was returned to his post. 

A bill has been passed paving the way for gay couples to get married in Chile. According to the equal marriage law that will enter into force, gay couples will also be granted the right to parenthood. 

The Guatemalan Congress, within the framework of the "Law on the Protection of Life and Family", has approved a law further aggravating the punishment for abortion and banning marriage between people of the same sex. 

The stories of the life struggles of the 24 women killed in March 

In Denizli, Fatma Çetin, was strangled to death by Ebubekir Karakurt, the man she had divorced 4 years ago. It was learned that the perpetrator had been constantly calling and harassing Fatma following the divorce. 

In Isparta, 24-year-old Raziye Karabuğa, who was 6 months pregnant, was killed after being shot in the face and in the eye by Şehmuz Gezen, the man she was living with. 

In Istanbul, 41-year-old Adalah Abykaliewa, was killed by 36-year-old Aman Usanov, 6 days after the perpetrator was released after she had registered a complaint against him for battery. 

In İzmir, 52-year-old Emine Sapmaz, was strangled to death by Münir Sapmaz, the man she was married to. After killing Emine, the perpetrator committed suicide with a shotgun. 

In Adıyaman, 46-year-old Remziye Yücel, mother of 4, was shot to death by Zeynal Yücel, the man she was in the process of divorce, while she was leaving her home to go to work. 

30-year-old Marziye Salehzade, mother of 3, was killed by Hamidollah Nori, the man she was in the process of divorce, at the hairdresser she worked in Konya. The perpetrator stabbed Marziye 6 times. 

In Istanbul, Kader Aktaş, was killed with a firearm, along with her children, by Bülent Aktas, the man she was married to. After killing Kader Aktaş and her children, the perpetrator committed suicide. 

In Bursa 24-year-old Asya Pınar ÜzÜmcÜ was stabbed to death by Oktay Hürmet, the man she was with. İfakat Evci, the mother of Asya, was seriously injured when she tried to stop the perpetrator. It was learned the perpetrator had previously used violence against Asya, and she had shared the statement ''I just want to live.'' on social media. 

In Tekirdag, 73-year-old Adviye Özgür was stabbed to death 12 times by Ferdi Çalışır, her nephew who owed her money. The perpetrator also injured his wife Aynur H., who tried to stop him. 

In Konya, 69-year-old Fatma Gümüş was stabbed to death by Abdullah K., the man her daughter was married to and had a restraining order against. The perpetrator also attacked his wife Hatice K., seriously injuring her. 

In Sakarya, 26-year-old Buket Pala, was battered and seriously injured with a firearm on the 18th of February by Azer Pala, the man she was married to. Buket died on the 15th of March. After shooting Buket, the perpetrator also injured Buket's mother by hitting her with his rifle when she tried to stop him. 

In Istanbul, 21-year-old pharmacy student Yağmur Sönmez was killed with a firearm in the parking lot of a shopping mall by Murat Bakırkoylu, the man she had rejected. The perpetrator committed suicide after killing Yağmur. 

In Antalya, 17-year-old Nuray Demir was strangled in a hotel room by 30-year-old Taner Bektaş, the man she used to be with. It was learned the perpetrator had threatened Nuray by saying, "Either you make up with me, or I will kill you". 

In Adana, Fadime Koca, mother of 4, was killed with a shotgun by Rahim Koca, the man she wanted to divorce. It was learned that Fadime had complained about him because he was threatening her and was following her even after she moved to different addresses. 

In Kilis, nurse Fatma Solak, mother of 3, was killed with a firearm by the police officer Hasan Solak, the man she was married to. 

46-year-old Ayşe İşlek and 30-year-old Tuğba Kızıloğlu died after being stabbed multiple times by Erdal Kızıloğlu, the father of Tuğba and the man Ayşe used to be married to. It was learned that before killing Ayşe and Tuğba, the perpetrator resigned from his job and said, "you will never see me again", to the people he transferred his assets and gave his money. 

In Bursa, 62-year-old Aynur Karayün died after being stabbed multiple times by Yusuf Karayün, the man she was married to but lived separately due to severe conflict. 

It was revealed that Serap Başer, who had disappeared 16 years ago in Niğde when she was 24-year-old, was killed by Ali Baser, the man she was married to. Ali Baser had died in a car accident 2 years after her death. Serap's bones were found in a 130-meter-deep water well in a field belonging to the perpetrator. 

In Kırşehir, the body of 18-year-old Şeyma Demir was found on the shore of Kızılırmak. She was found handcuffed behind the back and shot in the back of the neck. It was revealed that Sami Aydoğan and Şefik Ekici had sexually abused Şeyma before killing her. 

In Istanbul, art teacher Gülşen Onat was shot dead with a firearm by Ramazan Onat, the man she was married to. The perpetrator, who argued with his neighbour and opened fire, committed suicide after coming to his house and killing Gülşen. 

41-year-old Ayşe Perçem, mother of 1, died after being stabbed in the back with a bread knife Hacı Perçem, the man she was married to and allegedly had an incompatible relationship with. 

In Ordu, 22-year-old Eda Evli was strangled to death with the strap of a collar card by Sinan Şimsek, the man she was with. It was learned that Eda had previously gotten a restraining order against the perpetrator. 

In Adana, 40-year-old Ayşe Okuyucu died after being shot 3 times by 22-year-old Kemal Okun, her son. It was learned Ayşe had gotten a divorce 6 years ago and lived separately from her children. In his statement, the perpetrator said that she had embarrassed them.