22 Femicides and 27 Suspicious Deaths of Women in June 

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. 

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

This month, 22 femicides were committed, and 27 women were found suspiciously dead. 6 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, 2 women were killed on economic pretexts. The reason behind 13 of the 22 femicides could not be determined. The inability to determine the excuse behind the murder of 13 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 June, by city: 

By whom were the women killed? 

Of the 22 women killed in June, 9 were killed by the man they were married to, 4 by the man they were with, 3 by an acquaintance, 2 by the man they used to be with, 2 by their relative, 1 by the man she used to be married to and 1 by her son. This month, 41% 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 homes, 4 in the middle of the street, 3 at their workplace and 1 in an hotel. It could not be determined where 2 women were killed. 55% of the women killed this month were killed in their homes. 

Women were mostly killed with firearms 

12 of the women killed this month were killed with firearms, 6 with sharp objects, 2 by strangulation, 1 by being beaten to death and 1 by being hit with a motorcycle.  

55% 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 ‘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 2022. 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, 7 of the women were employed. The employment status of 15 of the women is unknown. 

A BEACON IN DARK DAYS, JOIN THE WOMEN’S ASSEMBLIES! 

In the aftermath of the elections, more than 2000 women from various provinces of Turkey joined the We Will Stop Femicides Platform Women’s Assemblies. These participations included women from different political views, parties, and institutions. This clearly demonstrates how widespread our purpose has become in society and how legitimate our struggle is. At the same time, it shows that organizing and coming together has become a necessity in this period. 

In recent weeks, we held meetings in 9 regions of Istanbul and many cities. We observed one crucial thing in the meetings; with excitement and enthusiasm, women are seeking long-term change and transforming the future. They are aware of their own power. They offer suggestions and strengthen our Women’s Assembly with their political opinions. 

This clearly shows that women are acting as the subjects of the social change we are experiencing. Women are now focusing on shaping their futures by actively participating in decision-making processes. 

Each and every member who joins our Women’s Assembly enriches and strengthens it by bringing their own perspectives and experiences. Their recommendations and political opinions form an important basis for a more inclusive and effective struggle. As the Women’s Assemblies, we will continue our struggle for equality and freedom with more and more members. 

YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO STOP US; WE WILL STOP FEMICIDES! 

On November 27, 2022, our November 25 International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women demonstration was banned by an unlawful decision of the Kadıköy District Governor’s Office and 118 people, including 68 members of our Women’s Assembly, were detained. This month in the first hearing of the lawsuit filed against our friends, all our friends were acquitted. We will keep shouting the slogan “We will stop femicides” everywhere. You will not be able to stop us; we will stop femicides. 

HAPPY PRIDE WEEK  

The Pride Month faced bans again this year. The Pride March was banned, just like all events, picnics, film screenings, and concerts during Pride month. During the time leading to the 2023 presidential and parliamentary elections, discriminatory statements against LGBTIQ+ individuals had become one of the cornerstones of President Erdoğan’s election campaign. This clearly shows that the bans against the Pride Month were political. The government is defining LGBTIQ+s as disasters threatening society’s survival, and this only deepens the challenges and discriminatory policies facing the LGBTIQ+ movement. 

Pride Week events and the March have continuously faced bans for the last nine years. This year, it was banned by the Governor of Istanbul on the ground that it “threatens the institution of the family”. Dozens of people, including our members, were detained in Istanbul and İzmir. Despite all the bans, we painted their grey cities with the colours of the rainbow. We will not give up our struggle and our right to equal citizenship. 

SUSPICIOUS DEATHS OF WOMEN ARE INCREASING! 

There were 128 suspicious deaths of women during the first six months of 2023. The perpetrators are not only committing murder, but they believe they can get away with these murders. Suspicious deaths of women usually occur when women are thrown from a height or found dead under suspicious circumstances in their homes. Ironically, it is alleged that many women decide to commit suicide while being with a man in high-rise office buildings. After suspicious deaths, the perpetrators often defend themselves with comical statements like “We were joking around, she jumped.” In some months, the number of suspicious deaths even exceeds the number of femicides. We observe that the increase in the number of suspicious deaths of women are not a coincidence. This increase is linked to the decision to withdraw from the Istanbul Convention. Perpetrators are encouraged by such developments and believe they can conceal the murders. The investigation processes regarding suspicious deaths are not effectively carried out. However, women are no longer giving up and are pursuing these cases. We will continue our struggle to ensure that investigations are carried out effectively, completed and justice is served. We will work with determination until we reveal the truth behind the suspicious deaths of women. 

Law No. 6284 and Its Results  

In Kayseri, M. V., who sexually assaulted a 5-year-old girl, was released on judicial control after his statement was taken. 

The head of the New Welfare Party (Yeniden Refah Partisi) targeted Protection Law No. 6284 on the opening day of the parliament. The New Welfare Party, whose entire party program consists of misogynist content, has been at war against 6284 for a long time. We, women, will continue to fight for the protection and implementation of 6284. 

The case of Elif Güneş, who was shot and killed by Koray Gülbar, the man she used to be with, was finalized. The defendant was sentenced to aggravated life imprisonment without discount for ‘deliberate murder of a woman’. The defendant who assisted the perpetrator was also sentenced to 15 years in prison. 

Nefes Balkan had died suspiciously after falling from the window of her house. The defendant Tunahan Türker was sentenced to life imprisonment for “intentional killing” without any discount. 

Remziye Tüysüz was strangled to death by Yalçın Polat, the man she had divorced. The defendant Yalçın Polat was sentenced to aggravated life imprisonment for “premeditated murder” 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 Istanbul, 32-year-old Çilem Büşra Yılmaz was found dead in her home. Three days before her death, Çilem had filed a complaint on the grounds that she had been beaten by Serkan Ö., the man she was with. 

In Nevşehir, Zeliha Usalan, mother of two, died after falling from the 6th floor window of her house.  

In Mersin, 62-year-old D. K. was found dead on a highway. Suspect S. S. K. was detained.  

In Istanbuk, Mohri Ereshova, mother of two, was found dead with her stomach and throat slit. Mekan Ereshova, the man she was married to, was detained. 

What happened regarding women in June? 

The Taliban administration in Afghanistan published a message for Eid. In a country where women are banned from participating in public life and their basic rights are restricted, Taliban claimed that they are taking steps to improve women’s lives.  

Çiğdem Mater, who was sentenced to 18 years in the Gezi trial, petitioned for tampons as they were not sold in the prison canteen. However, a male doctor from Sadi Konuk Hospital rejected her request, saying “Turkish women do not use tampons.”  

Melike Şahin’s concert in Bursa was canceled without justification. After Melike Şahin made a speech at an award ceremony, social media accounts close to the government had started a campaign to cancel the concert. 

The stories of the life struggles of the 22 women killed in June 

In Izmir, 40-year-old Nermin Yılmaz was killed with a shotgun by Mustafa Yılmaz, the man she was married to. 

In Kars, 28-year-old Ö. B. was shot dead with a shotgun by Z. B., the man she was in the process of divorce. It was learned that Ö. B. took shelter with her family after she was battered by Z. B. in İstanbul. The perpetrator also killed Ö. B.’s brother. 

In Antalya, Melek Bağce was killed with a sharp object in the family health center where she worked by Mustafa Bağce, the man she was in the process of divorce, after the hearing of their divorce case. 

In Manisa, 34-year-old Şükran Dalmış was killed with a gun by İsmet Dalmış, the man she used to be married to. 

In Gaziantep, 25-year-old Bilge Kaya was killed with a shotgun by Mertcan Köse, the man she had divorced a week ago, on the pretext that the custody of their 4-month-old baby was given to her. The perpetrator cut her off with his car, also killing her father, who tried to stop him. 

In İzmir, 21-year-old Dudu Yılmaz was strangled to death with a cable by Rıfat Yılmaz, the man she was married to, in the hostel she was staying. It was learned that Dudu Yılmaz had been living separately from the perpetrator for 3,5 months and wanted a divorce. 

In Ankara, 24-year-old lawyer Belen Neslin Coşgun was shot to death by Muhammed B., the man she was with. 

In İzmir, Gülkamar Hanimova and her daughters Leyla Geldiyazova and Laçin Geldiyazova were killed by Saparmurat Hallyev, the man Gülkamar was with, on the pretext of jealousy. The perpetrator also killed Ruslan Kerimov, the man Laçin was with. 

In Antalya, 38-year-old Sinem Albeni, mother of 3, was beaten to death by Ufuk Albeni, the man she was married to. 

In Eskişehir, 39-year-old Beyhan Gökçe was killed by İdris Güneş, the man she had divorced a year ago. After an argument, the perpetrator hit Beyhan with his motorcycle as she was riding her motorcycle. 

In Istanbul, 25-year-old Elena David was shot to death at her workplace by B. A., the man she used to be with. The perpetrator later attempted suicide with the same gun.  

In Aksaray, 45-year-old Şengül Keleş, mother of one, was strangled to death and thrown into an irrigation channel by her 20-year-old step-son Ömer Keleş. 

In Izmit, 34-year-old Gözde Vural was shot dead in the head by Hasan Ceylan, the man she was with. Hasan Ceylan later committed suicide with the same gun. 

In Ankara, Zeliha Yağmur was stabbed to death by her son Sefa Yağmur. It was learned that Zeliha Yağmur had previously gotten a restraining order against the perpetrator and that he wore a niqab and entered the house from the balcony to avoid being recognized. 

In Istanbul, nurse Sevinç Akdoğan, mother of two, was stabbed to death by Rahim Akdoğan, the man she was married to, on the pretext that she didn’t give her retirement bonus to him.  

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In Adana, 27-year-old Sultan Erdoğan was shot to death at her workplace by her colleague Rıdvan Sebuktekin. 

In Izmir, Fidan Bahçecioğlu, mother of one, was shot to death by Yücel K., the man she used to be with. The perpetrator also killed Fidan’s brother Kenan Bahçecioğlu during the incident. 

In Karabük, 19-year-old Karbeyaz Çimen was shot dead in the head by Tarık Çimen, the father of the man she was married to. The perpetrator had been released from prison on June 22nd to be tried without arrest on charges of ‘sexual assault’. 

In Adana, 30-year-old Nuriye Arslan was shot dead in the head by Erhan Arslan, the man she was in the process of divorce. The perpetrator later committed suicide with the same gun.  

In Hakkari, 20-year-old Evin R. was shot dead with a Kalashnikov medium automatic rifle by Heryad R. Y., the man she was married to. Evin’s 16-year-old sibling Peyman R. was also seriously wounded.