2022 July Report*
24 Femicides and 20 Suspicious Deaths of Women in July
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. 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 mobilisation of all relevant ministries and mechanisms to fulfil this duty.
13 women were killed on the pretext of wanting to take decisions about their life
This month, 24 femicides were committed, and 20 women were found suspiciously dead. The reason behind 10 of the 24 femicides could not be determined. 13 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, and 1 woman was killed on economic pretexts. The inability to determine the excuse behind the murder of 10 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.
Femicide data in the month of July by city:
We would like to share the names of the women, each of whom was a life:
By whom were the women killed?
Of the 24 women killed in July, 14 were killed by the man they were married to, 2 by the man they used to be married to, 2 by the man they used to be with, 2 by a relative, 1 by the man they were with, 1 by her brother, 1 by her employer and 1 by a stranger. This month, 58% of the women who were killed were killed by the man they were married to.
Women were mostly killed in their homes
12 of the women were killed at their home, 4 in the middle of the street, 3 in a car, 1 in a field, 1 at her workplace and 1 in a hotel. It could not be determined where 2 women were killed. 50% 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, 4 with sharp objects, 3 by being beaten to death, 1 by strangulation and 1 was killed with a chemical substance. 63% 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 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 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, 3 of the women were employed. The employment status of 21 of the women is unknown.
We will not give up on the Istanbul Convention!
The 10th Chamber of the Council of State rejected the lawsuits filed against the unlawful withdrawal of the President’s signature from the Istanbul Convention. Dozens of women’s organisations, Bar Associations, and hundreds of women and LGBTIQ+s from all over Turkey gathered at the Council of State to defend the Istanbul Convention and to show that we are not giving up on it. However, the 10th Chamber of the Council of State accepted the decision, which was made in one night, with one line saying, “It is the discretion of the Presidency”.
The Council of State panel, which consisted of 5 judges, decided with a majority of votes, with 2 judges dissenting on the grounds that the Presidential Decree was unconstitutional. In addition, in all the hearings held in June, the prosecutors of the Council of State demanded the annulment of the decision to withdraw from the Istanbul Convention, which is proof that ours, of women’s, legal struggle.
As it would have been the 8th anniversary of the Istanbul Convention entering into force in Turkey, women and LGBTIQ+s in many cities showed that they do not recognise this political decision and will continue to defend the Istanbul Convention.
While we have been trying to enforce the Istanbul Convention and to make the investigation and prosecution processes effective for years, the political power decided to withdraw from the Istanbul Convention on the 20th of March, 2021. This decision, which is an attack on our right to life, led women to be killed under various pretexts and gave courage to perpetrators. Since the 20th of March 2021, when the withdrawal decision was taken, 32% of the women killed were killed because they wanted to take decisions about their own lives. While the Council of State allowed the government to withdraw from the Istanbul Convention, women and LGBTIQ+s in Turkey face the threat of death every day for taking decisions about their own lives.
We will not give up on the Istanbul Convention. We will keep the Istanbul Convention and women alive with our growing political struggle.
The labourers will win through resistance, they will get their rights!
The subcontracted cleaning labourers of Koç University, who collected petitions and protested in front of the university for not receiving their social rights and holiday bonuses, were detained by the gendarme during their protests. Despite the 103 petitions they collected, the university administration refused to meet with the labourers.
The subcontracted labourers of İzmir Metropolitan Municipality, who provide home health and care services and have no job security, were unfairly dismissed with a Whatsapp message after another company took the service tender. The dismissed labourers could neither reach the company officials nor receive the severance and notice compensation they were entitled.
As the Women Assemblies, we were there and stood with the resisting labourers. Together, we will change this system that throws labourers into hunger and poverty. We will resist inequality and exploitation!
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 came into force after years of struggle by women’s organisations. If Law No. 6284 is implemented effectively, it protects women. The enactment of Law No. 6284, which was introduced to protect women and prevent violence, was only possible after the Istanbul Convention was signed.
Ş. Ö. was physically abused by Talip Altındal in a liquor store she took refuge in after he verbally harassed her when she was walking on the street in Sakarya. Ş. Ö. escaped by taking shelter in a woman’s car. The perpetrator was arrested after her complaint.
In Denizli, 22-years-old Rabia Dağ Arslan was stabbed and seriously injured by Onur Arslan, the man she was in the process of divorce. After the incident, Onur Arslan said, “We cleared our honour” in a live broadcast he did using Rabia’s social media account.
Lawyer İrem Esra Kömürcü Altun, who obtained a restraining and an address confidentiality order after the perpetrator threatened her in a sexual abuse case, could not receive health and transportation services because her address did not appear in the Central Population Address System.
In İstanbul, Abdullah Körük repeatedly stabbed 34-years-old Ayfer Orak, whom he was stalking, while shouting ‘takbir’. The perpetrator, who said he was blinded by anger for a moment, was arrested.
In Gaziantep, Hamide Şeyh Müslim was shot with a rifle by Ümit Dur, the man she had previously gotten a restraining order against and had complained many times, on the pretext that she wanted to break up with him. The perpetrator injured Hamide and her mother and killed her brother.
S. A. was sexually assaulted by the district governor of Osmaniye. While the prosecutor’s office decided not to prosecute the case due to “insufficient evidence”, the perpetrator was appointed as deputy governor.
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 must be implemented, the process must be followed, all units of the state must protect women’s rights, and public officials who fail to fulfil their duties must not go unpunished.
Suspicious deaths of women should be revealed immediately
In İstanbul, an unidentified woman in her 40s was found in a forest with her head separated from her body.
In Kastamonu, citizens who heard gunshots found Cemile Akman shot in the head in the middle of the street with a gun next to her. It was reported that the weapon found at the scene belonged to her husband.
In Diyarbakır, 25-year-old Songül G. was 8 months pregnant when she was found lying motionless in her house by her neighbours. The medical teams determined that Songül had died, and they could not save the baby.
In Erzincan, 79-year-old Şehriban Ercan was found dead by villagers in a water canal near her house, hit on the head with a stone. The gendarmerie teams on patrol stopped 33-year-old Onur R., who drew attention with his uneasy demeanour and who had a previous criminal record for extortion, on the suspicion that he might have been involved in a crime. The suspect was arrested after the team found that he was drunk, his clothes were wet, and he had scratches on his arms.
In Aydın, 59-year-old Hatice Güler allegedly collapsed while having breakfast with her friend A. İ. A. and died in the car while being taken to the health centre. The lifeless body of the woman, whose death was found to be suspicious, was sent to the Forensic Medicine Institute to determine the exact cause of death.
What happened regarding women in July?
21-year-old Aysu Türkoğlu swam the English Channel between England and France in 16 hours and became the youngest swimmer from Turkey to cross the English Channel.
In İzmir, a female bus driver was verbally and physically assaulted by a passenger. İzmir Metropolitan Municipality stated they will follow the legal process. While working, women are subjected to violence and mobbing and are being killed.
Kadir Şeker was released. After his lawyers’ appeal to the high court was accepted, Kadir Şeker was released on bail. The file was sent back to the Supreme Court for his sentence to be upheld. His trial will continue without arrest.
Halil Konakçı, an imam in Ankara, targeted women by saying, “Look what the streets have become! It’s like a butcher shop. The sight of ‘meat’ makes us sick to our stomachs.” He tried to humiliate women with these scandalous statements.
In Iran, women are reacting against the increasingly strict dress codes. Following the 1979 Islamic Revolution, those who do not comply with the Sharia dress code are being punished with fines and imprisonment. As a reaction, women have been sharing photos and videos of themselves taken in public places without headscarves.
When the US Supreme Court ruled that the right to abortion was left to the states to decide, women across the country rose. Lawmakers have taken action to overturn the decision, but it is thought that these developments will have an impact worldwide.
The Global Gender Gap Report published by the World Economic Forum stated that 132 years are needed to achieve gender equality. In the same report, it was revealed that the pandemic period increased this gap. In this list of 146 countries, Turkey ranks 124th.
After 10 years, the United Kingdom ratified the Istanbul Convention. The Convention will enter into force for the UK on the 1st of November 2022.
The stories of the life struggles of the 24 women killed in July
In Ankara, 38-year-old Tülay Erdem was shot dead by Tunç Erdem, the man she wanted to divorce. The perpetrator committed suicide after the incident.
In Balıkesir, 37-year-old Esra Altınkaynak was shot dead by Mustafa Kaynak, the man she used to be married to. At the time of the incident, Esra was going to the hairdresser shop she owned. The perpetrator committed suicide with the same weapon at the scene of the incident.
In Konya, 45-year-old Keziban Demir was stabbed to death by Murat Demir, the man she had married two days ago. The perpetrator, who was taken into custody, had a previous criminal record for willful injury.
In Denizli, 27-year-old Sojida Kalandarova was killed by getting acid thrown in her face by Özgür G, the man she was with. Sojida, who was seriously injured due to the incident, lost her life after 38 days. The perpetrator also injured Sojida’s friend, who was with her. The perpetrator had been imprisoned 17 years ago for killing his mother-in-law. Özgür G. was caught while trying to flee abroad and was sent to court.
In Istanbul, 25-year-old Zeynep Turgut, mother of one, was shot dead by Tugay Turgut, the man she was married to. The perpetrator also killed Zeynep’s 56-year-old mother Nedime Dinçer, and seriously injured her older sister Ayşe Kıyak. It was alleged that Zeynep was constantly subjected to violence and had gotten a restraining order. The perpetrator was arrested and sent to prison.
In Denizli, 38-year-old Emine Yalçın, mother of two, was shot dead by Erdal Yalşın, the man she was in the process of divorce. The perpetrator also shot Mehmet Aksoy on the pretext that he was with Emine and Mehmet’s mother Gülperi Aksoy. Gülperi Aksoy died after a 16-day struggle for life. The perpetrator was arrested and sent to prison.
In Izmir, 38-year-old Kader Değirmen was stabbed to death by Halis Değirmen, the man she was married to. The perpetrator was arrested.
In Isparta, Döndü Salman was battered to death by Mustafa Şeref Salman, the man she was married to. The perpetrator committed suicide after the incident.
In Kırşehir, 38-year-old Fadime Öcal was shot dead by Gökhan Öcal, her brother. The perpetrator was arrested by the court.
In Diyarbakır, 28-year-old Esma Başeğmez was first wounded with a knife and then shot dead by E.B., the man she used to be married to. Esma had gotten divorced from the perpetrator 3 months ago. The perpetrator has still not been caught.
In Kocaeli, 28-year-old Birgül Göksu, mother of two, was stabbed to death by Yakup Göksu, the man she was married to and wanted to divorce. The perpetrator got arrested.
In İstanbul, 32-year-old Pınar Damar was strangled to death by Metin Aydın, her relative. Pınar’s family had reported her missing to the police. One day later, Pınar was found dead in a forest. The perpetrator confessed to the murder and was arrested.
In Konya, 34-year-old Sultan Pınarbaşı, mother of two, was stabbed to death in the middle of the street by Süleyman Pınarbaşı, the man she was married to and had a restraining order against. The perpetrator was arrested.
In Mersin, 25-year-old Nurgül Gürsoy Dilek was shot dead with her 3-year-old child by Ali Dilek, the man she was married to. The perpetrator had seven criminal records, including willful injury and threat. The perpetrator committed suicide after the incident.
In Muğla, 29-year-old Derya Tekin was shot dead by Fatih Eryılmaz, the man she used to be with. The perpetrator committed suicide after the incident.
In Afyonkarahisar, 20-year-old Elif Çakır was shot dead by Doğukan Çakır, the man she wanted to divorce. The perpetrator was arrested.
In İzmir, 38-year-old Nuriye Mert, mother of three, was shot dead with a hunting rifle by Ertekin Mert, the man she was in the process of divorce. Nuriye had been struggling for life in the hospital for 24 days. The perpetrator was arrested.
In Eskişehir, 40-year-old Güllü Sülük, mother of four, was shot dead with an unlicensed gun by Ramazan Sülük, the man she was married to. The perpetrator later committed suicide.
In İstanbul, 32-year-old Elif Güneş was shot dead by Koray Gülbahar, the man she used to be with, on the pretext that she wanted to break up. When the perpetrator last wanted to meet, Elif had went to meet him with a friend because she was afraid he was going to harm her.
In Yozgat, Huriye B. was shot dead with a hunting rifle by Serkan B., the man she was in the process of divorce. Huriye’s brother Tunahan B., who was with her during the incident, was also seriously injured. The perpetrator committed suicide.
In Muğla, 18-year-old Zehra Bayır was first severely beaten and then killed by getting hit on the head with an object by the owners of the business where she worked. After killing Zehra, the perpetrators threw her body into a pool. Zehra was working there to pay for her brother’s medical treatment. Three of the seven suspects were arrested.
In İstanbul, 24-year-old Sema Kısa, mother of two, was tortured to death by Muğdat Kısa, the man she was married to. Muğdat Kısa, who worked as a shepherd in the tents set up on the plateau in Muş, surrendered after taking Sema to the plateau and killing her there.
*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 analyse, compile and evaluate our Femicide Report according to the concept of femicide. In other words, the conceptualisation 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”