2022 October Report* 

34 Femicides and 26 Suspicious Deaths of Women in October 

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. 

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

This month, 34 femicides were committed, and 26 women were found suspiciously dead. 11 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 2 women were killed on economic pretexts. The reason behind 21 of the 34 femicides could not be determined. The inability to determine the excuse behind the murder of 21 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 October, by city: 

By whom were the women killed? 

Of the 34 women killed in October 18 were killed by the man they were married to, 6 by an acquaintance, 2 by the man they were with, 2 by their father, 2 by their relative, 1 by the man she used to be married to, 1 by the man she used to be with, 1 by her brother, and 1 by a stranger. This month, 53% of the women who were killed were killed by the man they were married to. 

Women were mostly killed in their homes 

20 of the women were killed at their homes, 7 in the middle of the street, 2 at their workplace, 1 in a field, 1 in a hotel, 1 in an entertainment venue and 1 on the road when her car was intercepted. It could not be determined where 1 woman was killed. 59% of the women killed this month were killed in their homes. 

Women were mostly killed with firearms 

20 of the women killed this month were killed with firearms, 9 with sharp objects, 1 by strangulation, 1 by being pushed from a height, 1 by being poisoned and 1 with a hammer. 59% 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, 8 of the women were employed, and 2 were unemployed. The employment status of 24 of the women is unknown. 

We Will Stop Femicides Platform Association cannot be Shut Down with Unlawful Lawsuits! 

We were at the Çağlayan Courthouse for the second hearing of the unlawful closure lawsuit filed against We Will Stop Femicides Platform Association. Just like in our first hearing on June 1st, women and LGBTIQ+ from all over the country gathered at the courthouse for an equal and free life. The relatives of the murdered women and women who have been subjected to violence also spoke out about the support they got from our association and our struggle. 

Mor Çatı Women’s Shelter Foundation, Women and Children First Association, Federation of Women’s Associations of Turkey, Muhterem Evcil’s daughter Deren Melis Göçmen, Neriman Kıvrak’s daughter Emine Akdoğan, Pınar Gültekin’s father Sıddık Gültekin and Yeliz Kurt requested to intervene in the case. All requests for intervention were rejected, and the hearing was adjourned to January 11th. 

The political power, which is trying to silence us and obstruct our struggle by opening an unlawful lawsuit, withdrawing from the Istanbul Convention and not implementing Law No 6284, now continues its oppressive policies with the “censorship law”. We are aware that with this law, which has been passed by the parliament and has entered into force, the government aims to “create fear and panic among the public” by using “disinformation” as a threat to hide the crimes they commit and prevent access to accurate information. As the Women’s Assemblies of the We Will Stop Femicides Platform, for 12 years, we have been sharing the data on femicides, facts about by whom, on what pretext and how the women were killed. On the other hand, the limited and incomparable femicide data shared by the Ministry of Internal Affairs creates distrust. Femicides are not just about numbers. They will not be able to prevent the women’s struggle with threatening pressures such as the censorship law. 

Despite the intimidation policies like the unlawful lawsuit to close down our association and the censorship law, we women continue to do what the authorities should be doing. In 25 cities, we put up “Killer Wanted” posters for Deniz Özarslan, the man who shot Ezgi Zerkin in the head and has not been caught since July 28th. Another killer who has not been caught yet due to the negligence of the authorities is Kaffar Yeğin, the man who shot and killed Hülya Şellavcı with a firearm. Hülya Şellavcı had gotten four restraining orders against the perpetrator, who hasn’t been caught since October 22nd. An imprisonment order for the perpetrator, who violated every restraining order that was issued, came four days after he murdered Hülya. Even after the decision to withdraw from the Istanbul Convention, women do not give up their rights. Women appeal to the state for protection, but the authorities do not fulfil their duties. 7% of the women killed in 2022 were killed even though they had gotten a restraining order against their perpetrators. These femicides could have been prevented if the Istanbul Convention and Law No. 6284 had been implemented. We will not give up on the Istanbul Convention, we will enforce Law No. 6284! 

LGBTIQ+ Rights are Human Rights! 

Hate speech and rights violations against LGBTIQ+ continued this month. The hate march, organized with the support of the political power and reactionary groups targeting the rights of LGBTIQ+, was held in Konya after Istanbul and Şanlıurfa. In Konya, the mayor and AKP Konya Deputy also joined the hate march and attacked the equal citizenship rights of LGBTIQ+. 

The political power that allowed these marches also continued its hate speech against LGBTIQ+ throughout the month. The President stated they want to legalize the discrimination they have been verbally practising for years. They want to create a constitutional amendment that discriminates against LGBTIQ+ as they continue to attack LGBTIQ+ families with heterosexism and patriarchy. 

The political power is using the human rights of LGBTIQ+ as an election strategy. They are trying to win votes by inciting hatred and enmity within reactionary groups and their voter base. What is being done is a hate crime and a violation of human rights. 

While the political power keeps defending the concept of the “strong family”, women and children are getting killed in many families. Women are mostly killed in their homes. In October, 20 women were killed in their homes.  

This month, in Elazığ, Yaşar Uçar killed Yasemin Uçar, whom he was in the process of divorce, with a gun and wounded her daughter Merve Güreli. In Ankara, Bahtınur Karabacak and her daughter Havvanur Karabacak were killed by Muammer Karabacak, with whom she was in the process of divorce. Again, in Ankara, Zuhal Uğur and her children Tuğçe and Yusuf were killed by Mehmet Uğur, the man she was married to and had a restraining order against. Is it the strong family or the patriarchal order the political power wants? We will destroy this order. We will not stop defending the struggle for the lives of women and children. 

The hate speeches of the political power encourage law enforcement officers. In Kadıköy, Istanbul, law enforcement officers physically and sexually assaulted a group of women and LGBTIQ+ who were victims of sexual violence and who had asked them for help.  

University Women Assemblies: Young Women are Running to Freedom 

University Women Assemblies stated, “We will never walk alone; we will liberate universities” and set their goals. Young women, one of the groups most affected by the increasingly oppressive and reactionary policies of the political power, are holding on to their collective struggle more tightly than ever. For campuses where we can freely discuss our thoughts and struggle, we call all women and LGBTIQ+ university students to the University Women Assemblies. 

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. 

Ümitcan Uygun, who was tried on charges of beating Aleyna Çakır before her death and broadcasting these images live on social media, was sentenced to 4 years and 10 months in prison on the charges of ‘violation of residential inviolability’, ‘unlawful access to information system’, ‘unlawful acquisition of personal data’ and ‘threat’. 

The reasoned verdict of the life sentence given to Furkan Zıbıncı, who killed Şebnem Şirin by stabbing her 11 times in Denizli, was announced. It was stated that although there were 11 stab wounds on Şebnem Şirin’s body, the defendant did not get an increase in his sentence with the article ‘monstrous feeling or torment’. 

In Kilis, Mahmut Muhammet Özyer, who beat Fatime Gül Özyer to death, who had just given birth, was first sentenced to life imprisonment, which was reduced to 25 years in prison due to his ‘good behaviour’ in the trial. 

Zaynal Abakarov was the last person to have contact with the 21-year-old university student Gülistan Doku who has been missing since January 5th 2020, in Dersim. It is revealed that although he was detained and released on the condition of judicial control, he has never fulfilled the signature obligation. It was learned that the conditions of judicial control could not be notified to Zaynal Abakarov for six months and 15 days on the grounds that he was not at his address and could not be reached by phone 

Suspicious deaths of women should be revealed immediately 

In Diyarbakır, Şengül Oktay suspiciously lost her life. It was learned that Şengül had gone to a women’s shelter several times because she was subjected to systematic violence by the man she was married to. She returned to the house where she was being subjected to violence because her family forced her. 

In Antalya, 37-year-old Duygu Bozkurtlar was found lying motionless in her house by her friend. She was taken to the hospital, where she was pronounced dead. Her mother Gönül Bozkurtlar said, “My daughter sent me a message three days ago saying ‘Mommy, they will kill me’. She told me she was 12 weeks pregnant, and they wanted her to abort the child”. She said that her daughter was murdered. 

In Ankara’s Beypazarı district, 58-year-old Emine E., who lived alone, was found dead. 

In Van, 25-year-old Hülya Avcı, mother of three, was found dead. While the death was recorded as a suicide, Hülya’s relatives said they were sure it was not a suicide. 

In Samsun, 22-year-old Nurgül Yiğit died after suspiciously falling from the window of her house.  

In Samsun, 74-year-old Makbule Doğan was found hanging from a tree.  

In Kastamonu, 59-year-old Raziye K. died after falling in front of her house.  

In Muğla, a woman was found dead in a forest area. 

In Istanbul, 36-year-old Zeynep Özgelen, mother of two, was found dead in her home. Muhammet Özgelen, the man she was married to, was there at the time of the incident and claimed that Zeynep Özgelen had collapsed. The suspect was arrested on charges of “intentional murder of a spouse”. 

3-year-old Meryem Çiğdem Ünal died in the hospital where she was being treated for a brain hemorrhage. It is unknown how she received a blow that caused the brain hemorrhage. Recep Aldemir, the man Meryem Çiğdem Ünal’s mother was with, was arrested. 

In Van, Ezgi Dağ, who had returned to her family’s house after being subjected to violence by the man she was married to, was found suspiciously dead. 

In Kocaeli, 18-year-old Sude Akarsu was found shot in the head at the house of O. Ö., the man she was with on August 6th. It was reported that the suspect O. Ö. had previously inflicted violence on Sude. 

In Samsun, 55-year-old Şehri Dilek was found dead hanging from a rope in her house. 

In Gaziantep, a woman’s body was found in an abandoned building, wrapped with a blanket and a bag. 

What happened regarding women in October? 

On the 5th anniversary of Helin Palandöken’s murder, the Farkına Var Association, together with Nihat Palandöken, opened a library in the neighbourhood where she was born in order to keep her memory alive and to support the education of children. 

On October 14th, 41 miners lost their lives in the disaster that occurred in the mine of the Turkish Hard Coal Corporation in the Amasra district of Bartın. The preliminary report of the expert committee was announced. The report found negligence in methane gas measurements, drilling and dynamite blasting. 

South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol announced that the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family will be closed down. A joint statement released the same day by more than 100 women’s rights groups stated that the move “will cause a return to the old days where women were used as a tool for population policies”. 

Two female high school students named Nika Shakarami and Sarina Esmailzade were killed by the police during the Mahsa Amini protests in Iran. More than 300 people have died, and more than 15 thousand people have been arrested since the beginning of the protests 20 days ago: 

In the South American country Ecuador, at least 206 femicides have been committed since the begging of 2022. Hundreds of women gathered in the capital Quito to protest against male violence and femicide. Women chanted, “We want to live” and carried banners reading “Take a good look at me, I might be the next victim”. 

In support of the brand LC Waikiki, which told its employees not to use colours and symbols that might have LGBT resemblances, the Minister of Industry and Technology Mustafa Varank said, “I find it is very important that LC Waikiki is taking initiative against the LGBT imposition happening in the world. I believe more brands will follow. We will continue to defend the family”. As a response, LC Waikiki was protested in İzmir, “We are here with all our colours against those who deny our existence as women and LGBTI+. LC Waikiki banned the rainbow, and Mustafa Varank congratulated them. We women are protesting this.” 

The stories of the life struggles of the 34 women killed in October 

In Istanbul, 53-year-old Hacer Yılmaz was shot dead by Serdar Atış, the man her daughter Aysel Kübra Yılmaz had gotten a restraining order against. Aysel Kübra was seriously injured. It is learned that the perpetrator had previously harassed Aysel Kübra at her home and workplace. 

In Isparta, 30-year-old Yadigar Işık, mother of two, was shot dead by Sezer Işık, the man she was married to. 

In Ankara, İlksen Tüzün, mother of three, was shot dead with a firearm Serkan Tüzün, the man she was married to. The perpetrator later committed suicide. İlksen’s mother stated that the perpetrator had been torturing and abusing her daughter for years. 

In Ankara, 40-year-old Dilek Çorap was shot dead by 77-year-old Muzaffer Çorap, the man she was married to, on the pretext of jealousy. 

In Istanbul, 32-year-old Burcu Tokaç was shot dead by Ersin Müezzin, the man she had divorced 5 months ago. It was learned that Burcu had moved into her sibling’s house because the perpetrator had been continuously harassing her by coming to her house. 

In Kocaeli, 17-year-old Büşra Kabataş was stabbed and strangled to death by Taner Yaylacı. It is learned that the perpetrator started a fire in the house to obscure the evidence. 

In Ankara, 40-year-old Bahtınur Karabacak and her 21-year-old daughter Havvanur Karabacak were shot dead by Muammer Karabacak, the man Bahtınur used to be married to. The perpetrator committed suicide after the murder. 

In Ankara, 42-year-old Zuhal Uğur was stabbed to death in her house by Mehmet Uğur, the man she was in the process of divorce and whom she had a restraining order against. Mehmet Uğur, who came home under the pretext of seeing their children, stabbed Zuhal Uğur, then stabbed their 12-year-old daughter Tuğçe Uğur and 9-year-old son Yusuf Uğur to death and committed suicide. 

In Denizli, 30-year-old Nadia Nori was murdered in her house by Sabour Sakhizadeh, the man she was with. The perpetrator tied Nadia Nori's hands with duct tape and her feet with plastic handcuffs, gave her rat poison and went to work. When he saw that Nadia was still not dead when he returned, he strangled her to death, wrapped her in a blanket, carried her body about 2 kilometres with a wheelbarrow and dumped her in a field. 

In Antalya, 67-year-old Gazele Aktaş was shot dead with a shotgun in the middle of the street by M. T., her relative with whom she had a feud over her divorce. 

In Ankara, 17-year-old Gamze Açar had gone to a hotel for a job interview on November 7th, 2020, and was found dead the next morning after suspiciously falling from the 5th floor. It was revealed that Gamze Açar was murdered by Mustafa Emre Demiral and Rıza Doğan, the men she met at the hotel and who introduced themselves as timeshare company employees. 

In Sivas, 46-year-old Sultan Önder, mother of two, was found dead with Süleyman Önder, the man she was married to, by her son. It was determined that Süleyman Öndür killed her and then committed suicide. 

In Adana, 39-year-old Bahar Torun was killed in the middle of the street in front of her 11-year-old son by Burak Acar, the man she used to be with, on the pretext that she did not want to reconcile. 

In Elazığ, 45-year-old Yasemin Uçar was shot in the head and killed at her son's wedding by Yaşar Uçar, the man she was in the process of divorce. The perpetrator also wounded her daughter Merve Güreli by shooting her in the leg and then fled the scene. 

In Elazığ, 29-year-old Hüsniye Keskinbaş was beaten to death by Nadir Üstün, the man she was with. Nadir Üstün was arrested by the court after the procedures at the gendarmerie and sent to prison. Ö. D., who had helped Üstün, was released on judicial control conditions. 

In Elazığ, 51-year-old Vahide Duran was stabbed to death by M. K., her brother, with whom she had an argument for an unknown reason. 

In Istanbul, 39-year-old Nursel Bircan, mother of one, was killed by getting hit on the head with a hammer in front of her child by Kamil Hakan Karabulut, the son of the elderly woman she was taking care of. It was learned that since Nursel Bircan was unrecognizable, DNA samples taken from her 8-year-old child were used to determine her identity. 

In Kayseri, 39-year-old Nazan Çatbaş, mother of two, was stabbed to death in front of her house by Mustafa Kayakıran, the man who had enmity with her husband. 

In Kocaeli, 23-years-old nurse Beyza Sorguç was shot dead with a firearm by Ömer Sorguç, the man she was in the process of divorce. The perpetrator also killed Beyza’s father. It was learnt that on the day of the incident, Beyza went to the Ministry of Family and Social Services Violence Prevention and Monitoring Centre after receiving threatening messages from the perpetrator. She and her father were killed on their way back home.  

In Yozgat, 53-years-old Nazife Talas, mother of five, was stabbed to death by Salih Talas, the man she was married to. 

In Şanlıurfa, 31-year-old Hena Şeyh Muhammed, mother of four, was battered in front of her children by Fariz Alhilal, the man she was married to. Hena was shot dead with a firearm while she was calling for help from the balcony. It is learnt that the perpetrator was married to 3 people and had eight criminal records on the charge of injury. 

In Ankara, bodyguard Eda Eke, mother of two, was shot dead with a firearm by Serdar Eke, the man she was in the process of divorce. It is learnt that Eda had gotten a restraining order against him and had filed for divorce because she was being subjected to violence. The perpetrator also killed Eda’s father. 

In İzmir, shoe embroidery workshop owner Hülya Şellavcı Yeğin, mother of two, was shot dead by Kaffar Yeğin, the man she was in the process of divorce and had a restraining order against. It was learnt that the perpetrator had violated the restraining order four times, but the disciplinary confinement order was issued after Hülya’s death. 

In Manisa, 65-year-old Huriye Zeybek was stabbed to death by Zafer Zeybek, the man she was married to. The perpetrator was detained. 

In İstanbul, 65-year-old Mevlüde Aluçlu was killed by her throat being slit by Baran Ü., her neighbour. It was learnt that Baran Ü. was not alone during the incident and that he entered her house to steal her bracelets. Baran Ü. was referred to the courthouse. 

In İstanbul, 34-year-old Emine Cin was shot dead by Levent Cin, the man she was in the process of divorce, while she was walking on the street. Emine Cin had reported the perpetrator to the police five times. The restraining order she had gotten against him had expired in September. It was learned that the perpetrator had a long criminal record. The perpetrator was arrested. 

In Manisa, 21-year-old Hilal Sultan Cingöz was shot by Önder Lafçı, the man who tried to kidnap her and whom she had previously taken driving lessons from. Hilal Cingöz lost her life after 48 days. The perpetrator was arrested. 

In Erzurum, 38-year-old Yasemin S. was shot dead by E.S., the man she was married to. The perpetrator was arrested. 

In Kırklareli, 44-year-old Songül Akbaş, mother of six, was shot dead by Zeynel Abidin Aktaş, the man who she was married to and had a restraining order against. Songül Akbaş was being subjected to violence by the perpetrator for a long time. The perpetrator was detained. 

In İstanbul, 67-year-old Fadime Çiftçi was shot dead by Yüksek Çiftçi, the man she was married to. After calling their kids and confessing to his crime, the perpetrator committed suicide. 

In Van, 45-year-old Nurhan İlhan was stabbed to death by M.İ., her relative. The perpetrator was detained. 

In Ankara, 72-year-old Huriye Coşkun died after being stabbed seven times by Zekayi Coşkun, the man she was married to. The perpetrator was arrested.