2023 May Report* 

40 Femicides and 22 Suspicious Deaths of Women in May 

The fight to stop femicides in Turkey has been going on for 13 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. 

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

This month, 40 femicides were committed, and 22 women were found suspiciously dead. 7 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, 1 woman was killed on economic pretexts, 2 women on the pretext that they caused a divorce, 1 woman on the pretext that she slapped the perpetrator and 1 woman on the pretext of noise. The reason behind 28 of the 40 femicides could not be determined. The inability to determine the excuse behind the murder of 28 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 May, by city: 

By whom were the women killed? 

Of the 40 women killed in May, 12 were killed by the man they were married to, 8 by an acquaintance, 7 by the man they were with, 3 by the man they used to be married to, 3 by the man they used to be with, 3 by their son, 2 by their brother and 2 by a relative. This month, 30% of the women who were killed were killed by the man they were married to. 

Women were mostly killed in their homes 

30 of the women were killed at their homes, 7 in the middle of the street, 1 in a car, 1 in a deserted place. It could not be determined where 1 woman was killed. 75% 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, 14 with sharp objects, 4 by being beaten to death, 1 by strangulation and 1 by being burned to death. 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) this month, the number of women ‘busy with housework’ increased by 65 thousand compared to the previous year. Thus, according to TÜİK, the number of women who were not even counted within the labour force became 9 million 982 thousand in 2023. 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, 6 of the women were employed. The employment status of 34 of the women is unknown. 

OUR HOPE IS GROWING; WE ARE UNITING IN WOMEN’S ASSEMBLIES! 

Presidential and parliamentary elections were held in May. Parties that ran their election campaign on the basis of hostility towards women and LGBTIQ+ entered the parliament. 

Women and LGBTIQ+s, and those subjected to oppression and discrimination must now unite more than ever. Even though this election ended in favour of misogynists, we must keep our hope, anger and spirit of resistance alive. We fought hard for our rights. We will turn neither Protection Law No. 6284 nor our other rights into a toy for reactionary ideologies. As Women’s Assemblies, we believe we will become stronger by uniting. More than 1200 women responded to our participation call. Instead of despairing and retreating, women are embracing the struggle more firmly. Women are strengthening their power by choosing to organize. 

We will continue fighting for women whose right to vote is usurped because of the pressure of the men around them, and who are in women’s shelters and cannot vote due to fear for their lives. We will organize, get stronger and stop misogynists. 

WE ARE NOT GIVING UP ON PROTECTION LAW NO. 6284 OR THE ISTANBUL CONVENTION! 

Those who targeted Law No. 6284 as an election campaign are now in the parliament. Law No. 6284 is being targeted on the pretext that it is “not suitable for the social structure and it destroys families” 6284 corresponds precisely with the secular, egalitarian, and free society we want. 74 of the women killed this year were killed by those closest to them, such as the man they were married to, their dad, son or a relative. In addition, in 19 cases, the women’s family members were also killed. Against the mentality that sanctifies the concept of family and forces women to be in an environment where they are subjected to violence, women will not give up on 6284! We will not forget those who propagate morality, honour and family and, at the same time, marry three women and defend child marriages. 

WE WILL HOLD THOSE WHO ALLIED AGAINST WOMEN TO ACCOUNT 

While the president claimed that violence against women was reaching a vanishing point, at least 40 women were killed by men in May, and 22 women were found suspiciously dead. This was the highest data we have ever shared. It is the full and effective implementation of the Istanbul Convention and Protection Law No. 6284 that will stop violence and murders. The rhetorics targeting women and attacks on laws and institutions protecting women are contributing to the violence. It encourages the perpetrators, almost patting the murderers on the back. The political power and its alliance, who made women’s rights an election material throughout May, are responsible for this increase in femicides.  

Law No. 6284 and Its Results  

Necmettin Gündüz had taken Müzeyyen Baykal hostage and stabbed her. In the lawsuit filed against him, which demanded up to 20 years imprisonment for ‘attempted intentional murder against a divorced wife’, the court applied a “discretionary discount” due to the possible effects of the sentence on his future and gave the defendant 13 years and 4 months of imprisonment. 

Murat Akmeşe, the police officer who broke the back of lawyer Zeycan Balcı during a press statement in front of the Istanbul Courthouse in 2016, was sentenced to 2 years, 4 months and 3 days in prison with a discount on the grounds of “possible effects on the future of a police officer” and was sentenced to 1 year, 11 months and 12 days in prison. 

The district governor’s office made a statement about the 5-year-old N. A., who had allegedly died after being hit by a bullet during the presidential election celebrations in Istanbul, stating that N. A. had died after of falling from a height. 

Ayhan Yılmaz, who killed Rabia Yılmaz, the woman he was married to and who was 2 months pregnant, and injured Rabia’s mother, Ayfer Aydınlı, in Isparta last year, was sentenced to aggravated life imprisonment and 15 years in prison without any discount. 

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. 

In Isparta, 38-year-old Hülya Halıcı was found dead on the street. An investigation has been launched for the death, which is considered to be the result of falling from a height. 

In Antalya, 38-year-old Huri Yoğun was found dead on her bed by Oktay A., the man she was living with and was in unofficial religious matrimony. 

In Muğla, 21-year-old university student Ece Kahraman was found dead in her home. 

In Adıyaman, a body of an unidentified woman was found. It was learned that the woman was around 18-19 years old. 

In Istanbul, 21-year-old Çağla G. lost her life by falling from the balcony. It was stated that she had an argument with the man she was married to before the incident. The suspect was arrested. 

In Zonguldak, 21-year-old Enise Candan was found hanging by a rope in her home. 

In Adana, Türkiye A. was hospitalized. It was suspected that her son had beaten her. Later, it was realized by the hospital staff that the son battered her when he took her to the restroom. The woman lost her life. The suspect was detained. 

In Aksaray, 25-year-old nurse Saliha Tuncel lost her life after falling from the 7th-floor apartment of Halil İbrahim A., the man she was with. 

What happened regarding women in May? 

20-year-old Kübra Ergin took her own life after the election results were announced, saying, “As a woman, I never felt free. They stole my youth”. 

The Supreme Court approved Kadir Şeker’s 10 years and 10 months imprisonment sentence. Şeker, who was released last year, was returned to prison after his sentence was upheld. 

Merve Dizdar received the best actress award at the Cannes Film Festival. When accepting the award, she said, “In order to strengthen the struggle of Nuray and women like her, I dedicate this award to all my sisters who refuse to bow down to what they are deemed worthy of, who take action, who risk everything for this cause, who do not give up hope no matter what, and to all the struggling souls in Turkey who are waiting for the good days they deserve “. 

The stories of the life struggles of the 40 women killed in May 

In Adana, Rahime Yıldız and Uğur Doğan had divorced 5 months ago due to domestic violence. After arguing with Rahime, Uğur Doğan said, “I will now kill those who gave you advice” and killed Rahime’s mother, 74-year-old Şerife Yıldız and 31-year-old family doctor Sümeyye Ergin in the garden of their house with a firearm. 

In Istanbul, 23-year-old Ada Uzkul, an accountant in a textile workshop, was killed by a firearm by A. K., who was working in the same place, on the pretext that she refused to be with him. The perpetrator committed suicide. 

In İzmir, 27-year-old Sultan Kaya was killed with a shotgun by Yıldıray Z., the man with whom she was in unofficial religious matrimony. 

In Adana, 29-year-old İptahal Baba was killed with a sharp object by Özgür Durmuş. The perpetrator also killed İptahal’s mother, İnayet Hellah and her brother Yahya Babo, and wounded her father, Abdo Baba, by cutting his throat when they tried to stop him 

In Malatya, 42-year-old Zeliha Temel was killed with a firearm by Mesut Demirhan, the man she used to be with. The perpetrator committed suicide.  

In Antalya, 70-year-old Fatma Sevinç was killed with a sharp object by Süleyman Sevinç, her son. 

It was revealed that 17-year-old Özge Şahin, who was found dead in her house in April, was killed by Eren Muhammet Emlek, the man she was with. 

In Aydın, 24 years old, Adanur Aslan, mother of three, was found heavily beaten in her house by her neighbours. After being hospitalized, Adanur lost her life. It was revealed that Adanur was battered by Muhammed Arslan, the man she was married to. 

In Trabzon, Ebru Usta, mother of three, was strangled to death by Muhammet Y., the man she used to be married to. 

In İzmir, Tuba Algül, mother of five, was killed with a firearm in front of her children by Bişar Algül, the man she was married to.  

In Istanbul, 44-year-old Hanife Burma was stabbed to death by Zekeriya Tokmak, the man she was with. The perpetrator surrendered. 

In Antalya, 37-year-old Saibe Akbağ, mother of three, was beaten to death by Ercan Akbağ, the man she was married to. The perpetrator told the paramedics who came to the house that she had fallen but later confessed to the crime. The perpetrator was arrested. 

In Istanbul, Emine Ercandoğdu, the vice president of Istanbul Provincial Women’s Branch of the Future Party, was killed with a firearm by Tuncay Gülenç, the man she was living with. 

In Istanbul, 52-year-old Fincan Kaya was shot dead by Ferhat Kaya, her son. The perpetrator committed suicide after the incident. 

In Muğla, 36-year-old waitress Zeynep Başaran was shot dead by Erdem Daşkara in his car. He then threw her body on the roadside. The perpetrator was arrested. 

In Aydın, 49-year-old Güllü Eren, mother of four, was set on fire with gasoline by Aydın Eren, the man she was married to. After one month in the hospital, Güllü lost her life. The perpetrator was arrested. 

In Adana, 31-year-old Burcu Cöddü, mother of two, was shot dead by Uğur Cöddü, the man she was married to. The perpetrator also injured three people who tried to break up the fight. The perpetrator attempted to escape but was caught and arrested. 

In Istanbul, 39-year-old Gülay Taşçı was shot dead with a firearm along with her 19-year-old son Efe Taşçı, by İnan Taşçı, the man she was married to, on the pretext that she wanted a divorce. 

In Kırşehir, 38-year-old G. T. died after being repeatedly stabbed in her house by Y. Y., an acquaintance. In his statement, Y. Y. said, “I had taken drugs, I don’t remember”. 

In Gaziantep, 43-year-old Dilek Özdemir, mother of two, was shot to death with a shotgun in the middle of the street by Nazım Özdemir, the man she was in the process of divorce. 

Songül Şaşırmaz, who moved to Ankara from Malatya due to the earthquake, was stabbed to death by Şahin Şaşırmaz, her brother. The perpetrator also wounded their other brother Abbas Şaşırmaz. Songül was allegedly being subjected to systematic violence by her brother, and no action was taken against the perpetrator despite repeated calls to the police by neighbourhood residents regarding the situation. 

In Ankara, 48-year-old Hacer Karaçor was stabbed to death by İsmail Karaçor, the man she used to be married to. The perpetrator was detained. 

In Antalya, 30-year-old Ceylan Sümer was stabbed to death by Metin Sümer, the man she was married to, on the pretext of jealousy. It is learned that Ceylan Sümer had previously gotten a restraining order against the perpetrator, but they reconciled afterwards. 

In Zonguldak, 2-year-old Nisanur Ö. was sexually abused and then beaten to death by the man her mother was with. 

In Izmir, 58-year-old Sevim Çetin died after being hit on the head with a hoe by E. Ç., her grandson and M. T. T., her grandson’s friend. 

In Diyarbakır, Jiyan B., who stayed in a women’s shelter for a while and then moved in with her sister, was killed with a firearm in the middle of the street by the man she had divorced about a month ago. 

In Antaya, 35-year-old Tatiana Aksu was found shot in the head in a forest area. Mustafa E., the man she used to be with, confessed that he killed Tatiana Aksu after an argument. 

In Diyarbakır, 38-year-old Basra Denizli was shot dead in her sleep by Mehmet Denizli, the man she was married to. The perpetrator committed suicide with the same gun. 

In Diyarbakır, 35-year-old Vezire Ertürk, mother of three, was stabbed to death by Mehmet Ertürk, the man she was married to. 

In Istanbul, Nazlı A., her daughter Esra A., and their neighbour Semiha Bağ were stabbed to death by Mehmet A., Nazlı’s son. Law enforcement officers caught the perpetrator with three knives on him. 

In Kocaeli, D. K., mother of three, was shot to death in the middle of the street by E. Ö. It was learned that the perpetrator had previously harassed D. K. in various ways, and D. K. had filed a complaint against the perpetrator. 

In Van, Fatma Uğur, mother of six, was killed by Şükrü Koçak, the man she was married to and who was recently released from prison. It was learned that the perpetrator fled after committing the murder and has not been caught yet. 

In Ankara, Ezgi G. was shot to death in the middle of the street by Volkan K., the man she had divorced last year. The perpetrator committed suicide with the same gun. 

In Kocaeli, Nimet Taşkın was shot dead in the head with a service revolver by Mevlüt Taşkın, the man she was married to. The perpetrator attempted suicide after the incident. 

In Muğla, 41-year-old Hasret Çakır, mother of two, was shot to death with a shotgun by Murat B., the man she used to be married to.