2022 June Report* 

31 Femicides and 22 Suspicious Deaths of Women in June 

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. 

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

This month, 31 femicides were committed, and 22 women were found suspiciously dead. The reason behind 18 of the 31 femicides could not be determined. 11 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 2 women were killed on economic pretexts. The inability to determine the excuse behind the murder of 18 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 June, by city: 

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

By whom were the women killed? 

Of the 31 women killed in June, 10 were killed by the man they were married to, 7 by the man they were with, 2 by the man they used to be with, 1 by the man she used to be married to, 4 by their father, 1 by her son, 1 by her relative and 3 by an acquaintance. The relation of the perpetrator could not be determined for 2 of women. This month, 32% of the women who were killed were killed by the man they were married to. 

Women were mostly killed in their homes 

23 of the women were killed at their home, 2 in the middle of the street, 1 in a deserted road side and 1 in a wind turbine field. It could not be determined where 4 women were killed. 74% of the women killed this month were killed in their homes. 

Women were mostly killed with firearms 

17 of the women killed this month were killed with firearms, 6 with sharp objects, 4 by strangulation, 1 by being burned to death and 1 was beaten to death. The weapon which was used to kill 2 women could not be determined. 

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), the number of women who were absent from the labour force due to their domestic labour was 10 million 35 thousand. According to TÜİK, the number of women who were not included in the labour force in the first quarter of the year (January-February-March) was 21 million 390 thousand. TÜİK’s warped data tries 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, and 5 were unemployed. The employment status of 21 of the women is unknown. 

We Will Not Give Up On The Istanbul Convention! 

Trials of the lawsuits filed for the annulment of the presidential decree ordered overnight to withdraw the Istanbul Convention continued throughout June. As the We Will End Femicides Platform and the Women Assemblies, along with our volunteer lawyers, we joined all the trials that were held on the 7th, 14th and 23rd of June 2022. One of our Platform representatives Esin İzel Uysal, with authorization from the Giresun Bar Association, made her argument by giving examples from our Report on Sexism In Judiciary. Women from all over the country participated in the trials. On the 23rd of June, law enforcement officers prevented the women from making a public statement in the yard of the Council of State building. At the end of every trial, the Council of State prosecutors requested the withdrawal order’s rescission. 

We will be waiting for the decision of the Council of State, which will be pronounced on the 20th of June, before the judicial recess. 

Regardless of the decision, we will keep on preserving the values of the Istanbul Convention! 

It was withdrawn from the Istanbul Convention on the 1st of July 2021. In the past year, 259 women were killed by men, and 239 women were found suspiciously dead. 

As a justification for withdrawing from the Convention, the Presidential Directorate of Communications had said it was “a Convention incompatible with the societal and familial values of Turkey and trying to normalize homosexuality”. As a year has passed, we can see how this was merely an excuse. In 5 femicide cases that took place in June, women were killed with their children. Emine El Ali was found stabbed to death on a roadside along with her 4-year-old child; Mustafa, the man she was married to, was taken into custody. In İzmir, Duru Sıla Alpay and Selin Alpay were murdered by their father. The “family structure”, which is considered sacred and is trying to be protected, does not protect women and children. It is the İstanbul Convention that protects women and children. According to the Istanbul Convention, if a child witnesses violence, the child is considered a victim of violence. In this country, children are not only witnessing violence but are being killed together with their mothers. 

Article 6 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child defines the children’s fundamental right to life and assigns the responsibility of protecting children to the state. 

We will not allow more children to be killed! 

Implement the Istanbul Convention, the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Lanzarote Convention effectively! 

Rainbow is not a Crime, Discrimination is! 

The Pride Month and the Pride Parade held annually in June witnessed rights violations and oppression this year as well. Activities, parades, picnics and press releases wanted to be organized all over Turkey tried to be prevented. Bans on marches and demonstrations were imposed by various governors on the pretext of “protecting public morality”. Middle East Technical University, Çanakkale, İstanbul, Muğla, Gaziantep, Eskişehir and İzmir were among the places where Pride Month events were banned. Despite all obstacles, as the LGBTIQ+ Assemblies, we were on the streets to march in the Parade as planned. However, 373 LGBTIQ+ were detained by the police. 

We ask the law enforcement officers: do you treat the perpetrators of murder, violence and threats against LGBTIQ+s the same way you treat people who seek and defend their rights? We saw your attitude against LGBTIQ+, who were being threatened, at Istanbul University. 

LGBTIQ+s who wanted to organize a picnic event at Istanbul University were subjected to threats of lynching by a radical reactionary group. Meanwhile, the police made no effort to prevent the reactionary group from gathering. 

Despite all these obstacles, our fight will not end until every LGBTIQ+ can live freely! We will end discrimination against sexual identity and sexual orientation! 

While Women Get Killed, Perpetrators Get Reduced Sentences 

In the case concerning the brutal murder of Pınar Gültekin, the perpetrator Cemal Metin Avcı was sentenced to an “aggravated life sentence”. Later, the court decided there was “unfair provocation” and reduced the sentence to 23 years. All the defendants, who were on trial for aiding in the murder and destroying evidence, were acquitted. The lawyers of Gültekin’s family stated they will appeal the decision. The court decided there was a provocation based solely on the perpetrator’s statement, which was aimed at getting a sentence reduction. According to the court, strangling and putting someone in a barrel to burn her alive and pouring concrete on her was not “premeditated murder motivated by monstrous feelings”. The court did not only reward Cemal Metin Avcı by reducing his sentence with an ‘unjust provocation’ but also encouraged potential perpetrators. 

If Article 45 of the Istanbul Convention, which stipulates taking “necessary legal and other measures to impose proportionate and deterrent penalties” was implemented, the reduction could not have been given to the perpetrator. Because the Istanbul Convention protects women and children, not perpetrators. 

The lawyer of Gültekin’s family applied to the Supreme Court, and the Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office demanded the punishment of the suspects who allegedly assisted Cemal Metin Avcı by concealing evidence. In addition, the Supreme Court stated that the reduction given to Cemal Metin Avcı did not comply with the legal procedures. 

We will continue to follow the Pınar Gültekin case! We will put an end to the patriarchal stance of the Judiciary! 

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. 

The case against Mehmet Erdoğan, who stabbed his wife Zeynep Erdoğan, and battered and tied Zeynep’s son with a hogtie and locked him in the basement, was seen. Despite the reduction demanded by the perpetrator, the court sentenced him to aggravated life sentence and 25 years in prison without any reduction. 

In Çanakkale, İlknur Kuloğlu was beaten and raped at her home and kidnapped with the threat of “I have a syringe full of poison with me” by Mustafa Kuloğlu, the man she was in the process of divorce and who she had a restraining order against. He was brought to court on the charges of ‘deprivation of liberty’, ‘sexual assault’ and ‘willful injury’ but was released pending trial. This month, he again broke into İlknur’s house and kidnapped her for the second time. After her relatives reported the incident, İlknur was found, but the perpetrator could not be caught. 

In the case of Hatice Kurban, who was killed by Uğur Kurban, the man she was in the process of divorce, the Court of Appeals found the ‘unjust provocation’ reduction insufficient and overturned the decision. 

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 

In Antalya, 40-year-old nurse Bahtiser Erdoğan, mother of 2, was found shot dead at her home. 

In Gaziantep, 41-year-old Emine El Ali and her 4-year-old son were found dead in a minibus by the road. It was learned that Emine was found naked, and there were signs of battery and knife marks on her body. Mustafa, the man she was married to, was arrested at a nearby gas station. 

In Hatay, 25-year-old Aylin Arslan was found dead on the street. The security cameras indicated that Aylin died after falling from a height. 

In Istanbul, Sercan Köseoğlu was found dead in her house. It was learned that before her death, Sercan had an argument with Ömer Köseoğlu, the man she used to be married to.  

In Istanbul, 47-year-old actress Yonca Türkman lost her life by falling from a height. 

In Istanbul, 25-year-old Ebru Yaşar was found dead on the boulders by the sea. 

What happened regarding women in June? 

The U.S. Supreme Court overturned the 1973 ‘Roe v. Wade’ decision, which had been in effect for 50 years and gave women the constitutional right to abortion. It was stated that “The constitution does not grant the right to abortion. Roe v. Wade has been denied. The power to regulate the right to abortion has been returned to the people and their elected representatives”. With this new decision, the states in the country gained the right to restrict, prohibit or criminalize abortions. 

Gülistan Doku’s older sister Aygül Doku, who attended the graduation ceremony of Munzur University, wanted to make a speech on stage with her sister’s photo in her hand. She was forced out of the stage by the university’s security guards. 

After the ‘unjust provocation’ reduction given to Cemal Metin Avcı, who murdered Pınar Gültekin caused reactions, Bekir Bozdağ, the Minister of Justice, stated that he gave instructions for the decision to be reconsidered. Stating the decision given by the court pricked his conscience, he said, “I find it extremely beneficial for the issue of unjust provocation to be opened up to discussion in Turkey”. 

The Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change, together with AKP’s Beyoğlu Municipality, is evicting citizens who did not consent to the urban transformation, from their houses in the Fetihtepe neighborhood of Istanbul Beyoğlu. While their electricity, natural gas and water are being cut off, the neighborhood is continuing their resistance. 

In Şanlıurfa, a panel to prevent child marriages was organized. The imams who attended the panel stated that the skirt of the lawyer, who was a speaker, was ‘too short’ and said, “Speak behind the table, we are men of God.” 

The International Swimming Federation (FINA) banned trans swimmers from competing in the women’s category. 

The stories of the life struggles of the 31 women killed in June 

In Edirne, 81-year-old Hasibe Akbaş was shot with a hunting rifle by Yusuf Akbaş, the man she was married to. The seriously injured Hasibe Akbaş told her child who called the house, “Your father shot me, I am injured. Send an ambulance to the house”. Despite all the medical interventions, Hasibe Akbaş could not be saved. 

In Denizli, 18-year-old İrem Evren died after being laid on the ground and shot 5 times in her head and chest by Ferhat Evren, the man she was married to. Ferhat Evren, who had a criminal record for ‘deliberate injury’ and fraud, fled the scene and could not be caught. 

In Ankara, Hatice Bilsen was shot dead by Mehmet Bilsen, the man she was in the process of divorce, on the pretext that she refused to meet him. The perpetrator later committed suicide with the same gun. 

In Bursa, Yıldız Yazıcı was strangled to death with a rope by Halil İbrahim Yazıcı, her son, on the pretext that she did not want to move to Samsun. 

In Rize, 32-year-old Özlem Dursun was battered with a wheel rim and stabbed to death by Ramazan Dursun, the man she was married to. Ramazan Dursun, who took photos of the injured Özlem Dursun and sent them to Özlem’s mother saying, “I injured your daughter, I am waiting for her to die, come and get her”, was arrested. It was learned that Özlem Dursun requested help from KADES on the day of the incident but did not complain to the police officers who came because she was afraid. 

In Batman, Stalina Luisa was shot dead with her son by police officer Hayri Mağara, the man she was married to, while sitting in the garden of the police public housing. The perpetrator committed suicide after the incident. 

In Ankara, 32-year-old Gamze Akçam was stabbed to death by Bahri Akçam, the man she was married to, in front of her two children. After the incident, the perpetrator committed suicide by jumping from the house balcony. 

It turned out that 24-year-old Sevil Kutlu, mother of one, who had disappeared two years ago in Kayseri, was killed by Yusuf K., the man she used to be with. Yusuf K. confessed to the murder and said he killed and buried Sevil Kutlu but after a while took her body out of the ground to place her in a valley in İncesu to be destroyed by wild animals. 

In Istanbul, 40-year-old Emel Evbakan was stabbed to death by Osman Yılmaz, the man she was with, on the pretext that she wanted to break up. It was learned that Osman Y., who was married, left a note to his family saying, “I was not worthy of you, I yielded to temptation”, and committed suicide. 

The body of 32-year-old O.D., mother of three, who had disappeared in Malatya in 2016, was found burned. As a result of the investigations carried out by the special team unit formed by the Provincial Gendarmerie, the suspect M.D. (77) was caught, arrested and sent to prison by the court. 

In Antalya, 25-year-old Selda Muti, her physically disabled daughter Beyhan Su Muti and her 7-month-old son Ata were shot dead with a pump rifle by Onur Muti, who committed suicide with the same weapon. 

In Tekirdağ, 24-year-old Cansu Sezer was stabbed to death with her 3-year-old son Selim Ali Tekler by Burak Tekler, the man she had divorced 10 days ago. The perpetrator, who surrendered to the police, was arrested by the court. 

In Antalya, Ayşecik Dağıstanlı Ceylan was stabbed to death by Fırat Işık, the man she was living with, on the pretext that he saw Ayşecik at home with Erdem İçoğlu. After the incident, Fırat Işık and Erdem İçoğlu were taken into custody. It was revealed that before calling 112 Emergency Call Service and before the medical teams arrived, Işık and İçoğlu cleaned the blood in the house. 

In Adana, Hatice Barış was shot dead with a hunting rifle by Mustafa K., the father of the man she used to be married to. 

In Zonguldak, 35-year-old Yasemin Öztürk and her daughter 3-year-old Nazlı Evra Öztürk, were killed by Seyfullah Uslu, the man she was with. 

In Balıkesir, 24-year-old Kübra Açar died after getting shot three times by sergeant Burak Urcan, the man she was with. After the incident, the perpetrator committed suicide. 

In Muş, 72-year-old Hasbike Güngör was shot dead with a hunting rifle by Kazım Güngör, the man she was married to, after they had an argument. The perpetrator was taken into custody. 

In İstanbul, 58-year-old Şengül Kaya was strangled by a vacuum cleaner cord by Gürsel Kaya, the man she had been married to for 40 years, on the pretext that she was making too much noise while cleaning. Gürsel K., who called 155 by saying, “I strangled my wife; she is not breathing”, was arrested by the court and sent to prison. 

In İstanbul, 63-year-old Aysel Bozkurt was strangled to death while her hands and feet were tied by three people who broke into her house with the intention of extortion. Mehmet S., one of the murder suspects taken into custody, confessed to the murder by saying, “We had a relationship a while ago. While I was at home one day, 2 men extorted me with her. A week later I went and did the crime”. 

In Zonguldak, 40-year-old Nurten Demirbağ was shot dead in the middle of the street by her brother-in-law on the pretext that ‘she spilled dirty water on the carpets he laid on the balcony’. 

In Giresun, the body of 40-year-old Keremet Nyshanova was found on the side of a road. It turned out that Metin Aydın, the man she was with, shot her and then transported her body there with a car. 

In Isparta, Rabia Aydınlı was shot dead in front of her family by Ayhan Yılmaz, the man she was with. It turned out that she was 2 months pregnant. 

In Balıkesir, 38-year-old Sevim Özdemir was shot dead with a pump rifle by İsmail Ertek, whom she had a restraining order against. The perpetrator then attempted suicide. 

In İzmir, Murat Alpay, who had an argument over the place of his job appointment with Gülşah Alpay, whom he was married to, shot and killed their daughters, 14-year-old Selin Alpay and 10-year-old Duru Sıla Alpay. He then committed suicide. 

In Manisa, 65-year-old Ummuhan Yurtseven left home due to incompatibility and moved in with her 45-year-old son Mustafa Yurtseven. 71-year-old Hüseyin Yurtseven, who came to the house to talk, killed Ummuhan Yurtseven and their son with a firearm when an argument broke out. 

In İstanbul, 56-year-old Nilgün Söken got into an argument with Celalettin Uygur, the man she was with, because she did not want to move to Yalova. She was killed with a firearm by Celalettin Uygur on the pretext that she did not want to move to Yalova. 

In Van, Suna Bingöl was strangled to death by Yunus P., the man she was with, on the pretext of jealousy. Suna Bingöl’s brother, Bekir Bingöl, stated that his sister had been subjected to violence and was receiving death threats from the very beginning of their relationship. 

The missing file of Ömür Yıldırım, who had not been heard from since she left her house in Kütahya 7 years ago after saying she was going to the hospital, has been reopened. Alaattin Kara, the man she was with, got detained. Alaattin Kara, who gave contradictory statements and had taken a shovel and a pickaxe from his brother’s house on the day of Yıldırım’s disappearance, was arrested on the charge of ‘deliberate murder. 

*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”