2022 September Report* 

26 Femicides and 19 Suspicious Deaths of Women in September 

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 mobilization of all relevant ministries and mechanisms to fulfil this duty. 

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

This month, 26 femicides were committed, and 19 women were found suspiciously dead. The reason behind 16 of the 26 femicides could not be determined. 10 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. 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. 

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

Femicide data in the month of September, by city: 

By whom were the women killed? 

Of the 26 women killed in September, 16 were killed by the man they were married to, 2 by the man they used to be married to, 2 by the man they were with, 1 by the man she used to be with, 3 by a relative, 1 by her son and 1 by their step-father. This month, 62% 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, 5 in the middle of the street, 1 in car, 1 in a field, 1 in an hotel and 1 in a waterfront. It could not be determined where 2 women were killed. 62% of the women killed this month were killed in their homes. 

Women were mostly killed with firearms 

13 of the women killed this month were killed with firearms, 7 with sharp objects, 4 being beaten to death and 1 in a car accident. The weapon which was used to kill 1 woman could not be determined. 50% 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 23 of the women is unknown. 

We will be in Çağlayan on the 5th of October: We Will Stop Femicides Platform cannot be Shut Down with Unlawful Lawsuits! 

The second hearing of the unlawful lawsuit filed against our We Will Stop Femicides Platform Association will be held on the 5th of October Wednesday, at 09:00, in the Çağlayan Courthouse. After the unlawful withdrawal from the Istanbul Convention, the same political administration targeted our association. On the 1st of June, in our first hearing, women and LGBTIQ+ from all over the country gathered in Çağlayan for their freedom and to stand against oppression and defend our association. On the 5th of October, we are again inviting all women and LGBTIQ+ to Çağlayan in opposition to the unlawful lawsuit filed against the We Will Stop Femicides Platform! 

To the Ministry of Internal Affairs: Stop Manipulating Data, Reveal the Truth! 

The Minister of Internal Affairs, Süleyman Soylu, continued to manipulate the data this month. He stated that the number of femicides decreased, saying, “Last year, the number of femicides committed as of the 30th of August was 194; this year, it was 181. This means there has been a 7% decrease compared to the same period last year” However, according to our data, while 182 femicides took place between the 1st of January 2021 and the 30th of August 2021, 221 femicides took place between the 1st of January 2022 and the 30th of August 2022. We know the names and stories of all 221 women. Although we have been asking the Ministry of Internal Affairs for years, it doesn’t elaborate on the extent of the data released and insists on not defining the term ‘femicide’. 

There is also a difference regarding the data for the first 8 months of 2021. Why won’t the Ministry of Internal Affairs share these femicides with the public? Our data shows a 21% increase in femicides when the first 8 months of 2021 and 2022 are compared. As always, Soylu ignored suspicious deaths in his statement. The Ministry of Internal Affairs should enlighten, recognize and keep data on the suspicious deaths of women. As the We Will End Femicides Platform, we will continue to fight in order to reveal the truth behind the suspicious deaths of women. We will continue to publish our data every month. 

In the same statement, Süleyman Soylu stated that the application of the electric handcuff system for perpetrators of violence prevented femicides to a great extent. The Electric handcuff system only prevents femicides when implemented correctly and effectively. This month, Yasemin Demirok was tried to be murdered by the man she was in the process of divorce. We learnt that the electric handcuff of the perpetrator was broken; he wandered around freely for five days and then tried to kill Yasemin Demirok with a firearm. We will implement Law No. 6284 effectively, we will stop femicides! 

Right Violations against Women and LGBTIQ+ continue in Iran. 

In Iran, 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, who was detained by the morality police on the pretext of not complying with the dress code, lost her life after being subjected to violence. Following Mahsa Amini’s death, protests took place in the capital Tehran and many other cities across the country. Iranian women stood up against oppression and cried out for their freedom. At least 50 people were killed during the protests. Restrictions were imposed on the internet to prevent the organization of the protestors. Support for the Iranian women’s movement continues to come from all around the world. In Turkey, we protested with Iranian women and shouted, “You will never walk alone.” in front of the Iranian Consulate General. 

In early September, LGBTIQ+ activists Zahra Seddiqi Hamedani and Elham Choubdar were sentenced to death in Iran for “sedition and corruption on Earth”. Zahra Seddiqi Hamedani was arrested in Iran in October 2021 while trying to cross the border into Turkey. In a video she recorded before her arrest, she said, “I want to let you know how much we suffer as the LGBT community and how we fight”. We will also fight until all women, and LGBTIQ+ all over the world are free! We stand with Iranian women and LGBTIQ+. 

Homophobia and Misogyny continue in Turkey. 

The march, organized under the name “The Big Family Gathering” and carrying homophobic messages, drew reactions from a large section of the public. The call video for the march was broadcasted on television as a public service announcement with the approval of the Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK). The video was designed to incite hatred and hostility and insult a section of society. By broadcasting this video, the political power and RTÜK committed crimes of hate and discrimination. In the speeches made during the march, LGBTIQ+ and Law No. 6284, the safety net for women, were targeted.  

We see that the march, which was organized on the pretext that LGBTIQ+s destroy the institution of family, was supported by the government. When we look at this month’s data, we can see that 26% of women were murdered by the men they were in the process of divorce. “The family institution” is an oppressive concept where women are subjected to violence and are killed just because they want to get divorced and make decisions about their lives. We will continue to fight against a system that sanctifies the family and legitimizes femicide. We will demolish your heteronormative order; we will live equally and freely. We will not give up on the Istanbul Convention and Law No. 6284! 

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 organizations. 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. 

The hearing of 16-year-old Ayşegül Aydın, who Muhammed Atikullah attempted to sexually abuse and then beat to death in Gebze, was held. Our request to intervene in the case was rejected. 

The hearing of Turana Umayev, who was murdered by Elvin Umayev, the man she was married to, was held in Trabzon. The defendant, who was sentenced to aggravated life imprisonment for ‘deliberate murder of a spouse’, was given 24 years of imprisonment with an “unjust provocation” reduction. 

In the case of E.O., whose complaint petition we had previously hung, the perpetrator, who used violence and threats against her, was given a 7-month sentence with an “unjust provocation” reduction. 

O.Y., who sexually abused his 5-year-old daughter, recorded it and shared it on the internet, was sentenced to 26 years in prison for “sexual abuse of a child”. 

In Diyarbakır, Esma Başeğmez was stabbed and then shot dead by Emrah Başeğmez, the man she had divorced. After 3 months of hiding in the shed of the house, the perpetrator was caught and arrested by the court. 

Suspicious deaths of women should be revealed immediately 

Buse Ilgın, a university student, was found suspiciously dead in the summer residence she went to in Tekirdağ. 

In Istanbul, a woman was found dead hanging from the stair railings of a building. 

In Muğla, a woman’s body was found in an irrigation canal. The woman was identified as 78-year-old Fettahna İlden. 

In Karaman, 35-year-old Hasibe Kara was found dead in her house. 

Relatives who could not reach Gül Beyaz Kayhan, who lived alone in Isparta, called the police. Gül Beyaz Kayhan was found dead in her house. 

In Karaman, 27-year-old sergeant Yeter Akar’s friends got suspicious when she did not come to work and went to her house. When they arrived home, they found Yeter Akar dead. 

In Mersin, 25-year-old Nur Efşan Tekinturhan was found stabbed at home. H. T., the man she was married to, was detained in connection with the incident. The suspect claimed that Nur Efşan stabbed herself. 

In Konya, 61-year-old Hatice Kılınç was found dead near her vineyard after a three-day search.? 

In Ankara, 23-year-old Aleyna Ayas died after suspiciously falling from the 13th floor of her employer’s house. Aleyna’s family stated that their daughter did not commit suicide but was murdered. The suspects in Aleyna Ayas’s death are being tried without arrest. 

What happened regarding women in September? 

A Saudi student studying at Leeds University, who returned to Saudi Arabia for holidays, was sentenced to 34 years in prison for having a Twitter account and following and retweeting dissidents and activists. 

Başak Ceylan Torun stated that throughout their marriage, she had been subjected to psychological and social violence by Kaan Boşnak, the man she is in the process of divorce. 

In September, the concerts of İlkay Akkaya and Aleyna Tilki were cancelled on general security grounds. 

In a referendum held in Cuba, the public voted to approve the ‘Family Law’, which recognized same-sex marriages. The law, emphasizing that the family is based on love and voluntary union, and its members have equal rights, also acknowledges and equates different forms of marriage. 

The stories of the life struggles of the 26 women killed in September 

In Adana, Şermin Sarı, mother of 2, was beaten to death by Erhan Poyraz, the man she had divorced. It was learned that Şermin had gotten restraining orders against the perpetrator 2 months ago and 4 days before the murder. 

In Bursa, Fadime Cuma, mother of 3, was shot dead at a minibus stop by Kahraman Çetinkaya, the man she had divorced. The perpetrator then committed suicide with the same gun. 

In Amasya, 47-year-old Sunay Aslan Kaya was shot dead by Kadir Y., the man she was with. The perpetrator also shot and killed Sunay’s 19-year-old son with the same gun. 

In Şanlıurfa, 33-year-old Arzı Elen was shot dead by Mahmut E., the man she was married to and allegedly was having marital disputes with, on the pretext of jealousy. 

In İzmir, 65-year-old Sabiha Bulut was shot dead by N. B., the man she was married to. It was learned that the perpetrator attended a relative’s funeral after killing Sabiha and surrendered to the police after the funeral.   

In Bartın, 33-year-old Arzu Ar, mother of 2, was stabbed to death in front of her children by Metin Ar, the man she was in the process of divorce. It is learned that the perpetrator was previously imprisoned for ‘sexual assault against a spouse’, ‘injury’ and ‘threat’ and was released 2 days ago on judicial control conditions. 

In Mersin, 34-year-old Dilek Karaman, who worked as a laboratory assistant in a hospital, was shot dead with a firearm by Murat Karaman, the man she was in the process of divorce. Dilek was shot in the middle of the street, where the perpetrator had called her for her son’s birthday. 

In Erzincan, 30-year-old Handan Özen was stabbed to death by Ahmet Özen, the man she was married to. It was learned that Handan had previously gotten a restraining order against the perpetrator, but it had expired 1 month ago. 

In Adana, 25-year-old Ezgi Deler, mother of 1, was beaten to death by Razıl S., the man she was living together. 

In Rize, 46-year-old Yeliz Bülbül was shot dead by Fatih Mehmet Bülbül, the man she was married to, on the pretext of having an affair with his cousin. 

In Antalya, Jelana Sadrın, who came there for a vacation from Estonia, was beaten to death by Mihhail Sadrın, the man she was married to, in the hotel room they were staying in. She lost her life in the hospital she was taken. Bruises and cut marks, 1.5 and 2 centimetres deep, were detected on the woman’s body. 

In Mersin, 15-year-old Zeynep Bıçkı was murdered by Hakan Uğur, her step-father. The perpetrator committed suicide after the murder. 

In Mardin, 32-year-old Pakistan Öner, was stabbed and killed by her throat being slit in front of her two children by Emin Öner, the man she was married to. 

In İstanbul, 23-year-old Vildan Boduroğlu and her 18-year-old sister Fatma Zehra Koyun were stabbed to death by Ferhat Boduroğlu, the man Vildan was married to. After locking his daughter in a room, the perpetrator took photos of the women he killed and shared them on his social media account. 

In Kırşehir, Hatice T. was murdered by M.T, the man she was in the process of divorce, on the pretext that she did not want to reconcile. 

Yasemin Demir, who lived in Diyarbakır, was reported missing 2 years ago by Rüstem Demir, the man she was married to. It was revealed that Rüstem Demir killed Yasemin Demir, buried her in a sand quarry and filed a missing person’s report to avoid suspicion. 

In Gaziantep, 41-year-old Zehra Durmuş was killed by getting hit on the head with a wooden board by Süleyman Durmuş, the man she was married to. The perpetrator was arrested. 

In Giresun, Dilek Çamur, Ayşe Kılıç and Damla Çubukçu were shot dead by Nuri Çamur. The perpetrator used Dilek Çamur’s request for divorce as an excuse and shot Ayşe Kılıç and Damla Çubukçu, who tried to prevent the argument. The perpetrator attempted to commit suicide after the incident. 

In Antalya, 21-year-old university student Mümine Ersoy was beaten in a car by Recep Y., the man she wanted to break up with. Recep prevented Mümine from getting out of the car and crashed into a parked car. As a result of the crash, Mümine was thrown 10 meters and died on the road. A lawsuit was filed against Recep Y. with the demand of 11 years imprisonment for ‘manslaughter with conscious negligence’. 

In Istanbul, 58-year-old Havva Sayan was killed by her throat being slit by Ali Sayan, her son, who was reportedly addicted to drugs. Ali Sayan allegedly escaped from an addiction treatment centre. The perpetrator was arrested. 

In Şırnak, Berna Kargılı Bulduklu, a teacher, was shot dead with a firearm by Sinan Bulduklu, the man she was married to. 

In Niğde, 25-year-old Kiraz Büyüksaraç, mother of 1, was stabbed 10 times by Mehmet Büyüksaraç, the man she was in the process of divorce. Kiraz, who was seriously wounded, lost her life. The perpetrator was arrested. 

In Samsun, 45-year-old Havva Dursun was shot dead with a firearm by Mehmet Dursun, the man she was married to. The perpetrator has been taken into custody. 

*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 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”