2022 April Report*

24 Femicides and 16 Suspicious Deaths of Women in April

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.

10 women were killed on the pretext of wanting to make decisions about their life

This month, 24 femicides were committed, and 16 women were found suspiciously dead. The reason behind 13 of the 24 femicides could not be determined. 10 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 13 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 April 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 the 11th of April were killed by the man they were married to, 3 by a relative, 1 by the man she used to be with, 7 by the man they used to be married to, 1 by her son and 1 by somebody she didn’t know. 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, 4 in the middle of the street, 1 in a car, 1 at her workplace, 1 at a park and 1 in a deserted place next to a road. 67% of the women killed this month were killed in their homes.

Women were mostly killed with firearms

15 of the women killed this month were killed with firearms, 5 with sharp objects and 4 by strangulation.

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.

We Will End Femicides Platform Association cannot be shut down with unlawful lawsuits!

A lawsuit of termination has been filed against the We Will End Femicides Platform Association without any concrete evidence and for allegedly “acting against the law and morality”. As a reaction to this unlawful case opened against an association which has been fighting for 12 years for women’s right to live, revealing the truth behind the suspicious deaths of women and enforcing laws and regulations that protect women’s basic human rights, we were protesting in many cities on the 16th and the 17th of April. The relatives of the women who were killed and the women who were subjected to violence also joined our protest and reacted against this unlawful case.

Just like other unlawful acts happening in the country, this lawsuit filed against the We Will End Femicide Platform Association is not just an attack against our association but an attack on the entire democratic public. The first hearing of the lawsuit will be held on the 1st of June at the Çağlayan Courthouse. To fight against this unlawfulness, we welcome all women and LGBTIQ+s to the Çağlayan Courthouse.

We do not give up on the Istanbul Convention!

More than 200 lawsuits have been filed to the Council of State against the termination and execution of the Istanbul Convention with a Presidential Decree overnight. The requests for a stay of execution were rejected, and the proceedings for the annulment of the termination decision were held at the Council of State on the 28th of April2022. As We Will Stop Femicides Platform and Women’s Assemblies were at the Council of State, together with our volunteer lawyers, to show that we will not give up on the Istanbul Convention and continue to fight against this unlawfulness. In the trial, which went down in history as one of the most crowded trials in the Council of State, women faced police intervention before the trial. Despite all the obstacles, the women showed they will not give up on the Istanbul Convention and entered the courtroom. The Prosecutor of the Council of State stated the annulment of the Istanbul Convention was ‘unlawful’ and demanded the annulment decision be overturned. We will not give up on any international convention, law or regulation that protects women!

Of the 23 femicides that happened this month, 26% of the perpetrators had a criminal record. According to our data, 3 them have a criminal record, 1 is an ex-convict and 2 have been released from prison on leave. Convicts released on leave pose a danger to women. The Istanbul Convention states that the women or the families must be informed when men are released from custody or prison on leave. Unaware of the situation, women encounter potential perpetrators in front of their doors. Women’s security of life is not ensured, and inspections and controls are not being carried out when perpetrators are released. It is because of articles like these in the Istanbul Convention that we say, “Istanbul Convention Keeps Women Alive!”.

Those who withdrew from the Istanbul Convention overnight are issuing showpiece circulars. A circular titled “2022 Action Plan to Combat Violence Against Women” was sent to 81 provinces by the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Providing training for men, increasing the number of electronic handcuffs, increasing the number of KADES application users, increasing the number of women’s ‘guesthouses’, and training law enforcement officers are included as the targets of the circular. With this circular, the Ministry of Internal Affairs is trying to replace the Istanbul Convention ostensibly. Regarding the training for men, it is stated that it will be given to men above a certain age. The Istanbul Convention had stated that education on gender be given within the scope of pre-school education. Despite this, topics on gender equality were removed from the curriculums. Increasing the number of electronic clamps is useless as long as it is not actively and efficiently used. There are women who are killed and subjected to violence despite restraining orders. According to our data, out of the 280 women killed in 2021, 24 had a restraining order, and 9 had formed complaints to the police and to the prosecutor’s office. If the law enforcement officers had only done their job, many women would have been alive right now.

Women who are subjected to violence and are threatened are turned away by law enforcement officers, and their complaints are not taken seriously. Sevtap Şahin, who was killed by the man she was married to, had filed 60 complaints before she was killed. Songül Karakoç had called the police 6 times within an hour before she was killed. Likewise, Nurcan Seçer and Kader Gökçe, who were killed this month, had filed a complaint against the perpetrator shortly before they were killed.

Finally, these regulations are regarding the procedures after women are subjected to violence or are killed. What will be done to prevent and fight against femicides? What has been done so far is withdrawing from the Istanbul Convention, opening a lawsuit for termination against our association, We Will Stop Femicides Platform, protecting the perpetrators and trying to cover up the suspicious deaths of women…

We were all at Gezi Park

The verdict was given on the 25th of April regarding the Gezi Park trial. The Gezi Park Protests is the resistance of the women, the people and the millions seeking their democratic rights. The charges given are political, not legal. The political power thinks that by imprisoning Gezi, it can prevent people from pursuing their rights and stop democratic movements. We will take back the freedoms of those who were given unlawful sentences in the Gezi Park trial.

Equality at Home, at Work, and of Wages!
As the Women’s Assemblies, we were on the squares as always, on the 1st of May Labor Day. We held demonstrations at the squares of Istanbul against the exploitation of labor, the patriarchal working order and violence. We attended the 1st of May rally in Maltepe, Istanbul as the Women’s Assemblies cortege.

The working conditions in the country are getting worse. Job insecurity, informal sector and unemployment rates are increasing day by day. Women are excluded from employment or given lower wages because of gender-based inequalities. The domestic labor of women is seen as insignificant and women are thought of as unpaid domestic workers.

The problems women face working in different sectors, in their homes, in factories, workshops, plaza and in the streets are part of our struggle. We will continue fighting for equality and freedom. We will destroy this system of exploitation. Long Live 1st of May, Long Live Women!

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.

Ümitcan Uygun, who was on trial for the suspicious death of 25-year-old Esra Hankulu in Ankara, was sentenced to 10 years in prison for ‘aggravated injury due to consequences’. In the opinion presented at the court, the prosecutor demanded that the perpetrator receive an aggravated life sentence for the crime of “deliberately killing a person who is unable to defend herself”.

In 2015, in Kocaeli, 35-year-old Damla Kutulu killed Fikret Kutulu, the man she was married to and who for 15 years systematically subjected her to violence and torture. Although the court had released her stating self-defence, the Supreme Court overturned this decision and sentenced Damla to 15 years.

Emre Yıldır had committed suicide 3 years ago after being sexually abused between the ages of 9 to 18 by Vedat Tarhan, his relative. Although Vedat Tarhan was sentenced to 26 years in prison, he was released after the court overturned the decision.

Nurtaç Canan was appointed the guardian of Ragıp Canan by the court, the man she was, for 8 hearings, in the process of divorce and the man who attempted to kill her by firing 5 shots at her with a firearm.

In Iğdır, in the case of 18-year-old Aleyna Ağgül, who committed suicide after leaving the note “Gökhan Argın is responsible for my death”, the 43-year-old perpetrator Gökhan Argın was sentenced to life imprisonment for “driving her to suicide by using force and threat”.

In the trial of Başak Cengiz, who was killed in Istanbul, the perpetrator Can Göktuğ was sentenced for 3 different crimes by the court and was given an aggravated life imprisonment without any reductions and 5 years in prison.

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 16 women that took place in April 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.

In Balıkesir, 33-year-old Bilge Akça and her son Muhammet Tahir were killed by Fatih Akça. The perpetrator testified that Bilge tried to take the gun away from him when he tried to commit suicide, and that’s how the gun went off. Her daughter E. A., who was also injured during the incident, made a statement confirming the perpetrator’s statement.

In Istanbul, Yalçın Narman, who called the police in Istanbul saying that Fatma Narman had committed suicide, was taken into custody when it was found that Fatma had been shot twice.

In Şanlıurfa, 18-year-old Yasemin el Casım was found dead in her house with her hands tied and her throat cut.

In Ordu, Öznur Temiz, mother of 2, who couldn’t be reached for 3 days, was found dead in her house wrapped in a blanket. It was also revealed that Canan T., who was married to Naci T., the man Öznür had an unofficial religious matrimony with and was living with, suspiciously fell from a height.

In Istanbul, 29-year-old Ceylan Kılıç was found shot in the head. Although the man she was married to claimed Ceylan committed suicide, her family says she was killed by Kerim Kılıç, the man she was married to.

What happened regarding women in April?
RTÜK fined the channels which broadcasted the news of “Child abuse in the Quran course in Erzurum” upon a complaint from the Directorate of Religious Affairs.

Münevver Karabulut’s father, Süreyya Karabulut, announced that he does not believe Cem Garipoğlu, who killed Münevver, committed suicide and that he will make a request for the perpetrator’s grave to be opened.

In Aydın, an investigation was launched against 3 union-member women teachers on the grounds that they participated in the Istanbul Convention protest. The teachers were exiled to different districts.

The state of Oklahoma had also joined the ongoing abortion bans in the United States. According to the new law, except in the cases of medical emergencies, performing abortions can be sentenced to up to 10 years in prison.

The Supreme Court rejected the application for the annulment of the requirement to seek ‘concrete evidence’ in the 4th Judicial Package for crimes of sexual abuse, deliberate killing and torture.

In Samsun, the perpetrator, who battered his sister and was arrested, said, “I shot a man last week and was released from the courthouse. How am I arrested now?”.

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

In Erzurum, 35-year-old Hatice Karataş, mother of 3, was shot dead with a firearm by Yunus Karataş, the man she was married to. The perpetrator committed suicide with the same gun.

In Istanbul, 23-year-old Kader Gökçe was killed by Alpaslan Çay, the man she used to be with, after she got off the metrobus and was forcibly taken to an alley. It was learned that Kader had filed a complaint with the police against the perpetrator and had requested a protection order.

In Aydın, 52-year-old Esma Sedan, mother of 4, was shot dead with a firearm by Nail Sedan, the man she was married to, on the pretext that she wanted a divorce.

In Adana, 32-year-old Şükriye Gür, mother of 3, was killed with a sharp object by Ümit Sevinç, the man she used to be married to, on the pretext of jealousy. It was learned the perpetrator was arrested after he left the hospital, where he had attempted suicide.

In Aksaray, 69-year-old Hatice Kaplan was shot dead with a firearm by Murat Kaplan, her son. It was learned that the perpetrator also killed his brother and then committed suicide with the same weapon.

In Istanbul, 32-year-old Gözde Çelen, mother of two, who worked as a manager in a market, was killed with a sharp object by Mustafa Çelen, the man she was married to, on the pretext that she wanted a divorce. It was learned that the perpetrator used violence against Gözde during their marriage. On the day of the incident, he took her to Şile by force and killed her on the pretext that she did not agree to reconcile.

In Sinop, 38-year-old Zeynep Gıcık was strangled with a belt by Birol Çaylak, the man she used to be married to. It was revealed that the perpetrator set a trap for Zeynep by misleading his daughter that he would not be at home in order to bring Zeynep there. It was learned that the perpetrator had used violence against Zeynep many times before and had injured her with a knife.

In Elazığ, Fırat Alan, who was released from prison due to the pandemic, shot and killed 60-year-old Gülay Doğan, and 80-year-old Zerife Doğan, the sister and the mother of Cemile Alan, to whom he was married to. Cemile’s 10-year-old niece was also injured. It was learned that the perpetrator wanted to have a second wife, and Cemile, not accepting this, started living with her mother. The perpetrator came to their house to argue with Zerife and Gülay.

In Burdur, 35-year-old Nurcan Seçer, who worked as a restaurant manager, was shot dead with a firearm at her workplace by Serhan Seçer, the man she was in the process of divorce and for whom she had gotten a restraining order against.

In Adana, 36-year-old Elif Göbelek, mother of 4, was stabbed to death by Murat Göbelek, the man she was in the process of divorce, on the pretext of cheating. It was learned that the perpetrator was released from prison on leave during the incident.

In İzmir, 68-year-old Nahide Özçimen, mother of 2, was strangled to death by Özgür Kandemir, her nephew.

In Konya, 22-year-old Remziye Tüysüz, mother of two, was strangled to death by Yalçın P, the man she used to be married to, when she came to Izmir to see her children. It was learned that there was an arrest warrant for the perpetrator for other crimes.

In Giresun, 27-year-old İrem Kostakoğlu, a firefighter in the municipality, was shot dead with a firearm by Yunus Emre Albayrak, the man she used to be with, on the pretext that she did not accept to reconcile. The perpetrator committed suicide with the same gun.

In Osmaniye, 48-year-old Ayşe Sevimli, was shot dead with a firearm by Osman Sevimli, the man she was married to. The perpetrator, who also killed her son, was later found dead.

In Istanbul, Sema Tokat, mother of 3, was killed by her throat being cut open in front of her children by Şemsettin Tokat, the man she was married to.

It was revealed that 39-year-old Irodakhon Djuraboeva, who was found dead at her house in Konya, was first stabbed and then strangled by Noor Muhammed Subhanool. In the statement given by the perpetrator, he said he killed Irodakhon on the pretext that she did not pay her debt.

In Konya, 32-year-old Hatice Eser, who was working as a waitress in a cafe, was shot dead with a firearm on the pretext of cheating by Tahsin Eser, the man she was married to but had been separated for 3 months. It was learned that Hatice had issued a protection order against the perpetrator, and it had expired 5 days ago.

In Muğla, 35-year-old Sevim Yılmaz was shot dead with a firearm by Özay K., the man she used to be married to, on the pretext of her being with another man. It was learned that the perpetrator also killed Özgür Dağ, the man she was with.

In Tekirdağ, 35-year-old Ülkü Durmaz was shot dead with a firearm by Erdinç Ospar, the man she used to be married to.

In Şırnak, 21-year-old Berivan Altürk was shot dead with a firearm by Metin Şengil, the man she used to be married to. The perpetrator also injured her 8-year-old daughter.

In Istanbul 23-year-old Demet Arslan, mother of 2, was shot dead in the middle of the street by Sergen Arslan, the man she was married to. The perpetrator later attempted suicide with the same weapon.

In Trabzon, 38-year-old Turana Umayeva was shot dead with a firearm in a cafe by Elvin Umayev, the man she was in the process of divorce. It was learned the perpetrator had just gotten out of prison after serving time for a drug-related crime.

In Bolu, 68-year-old Nur Erdem was stabbed to death by Mehmet Erdem, the man she was married to.

*Our Report: It includes news about violence against women reflected in the press each month, about details on cases, recent events and 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 handle, bring together 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 by a man of a woman, from embryo to fetus, baby to child, adult to elderly, simply because of their gender or on the pretext of their actions contrary to the gender stereotypes. Femicides should not be perceived merely as murders in which people of the female sex are killed. In these murders committed with hatred, what is attacked is the identity of the woman herself”