We Will Stop Femicides Platform August 2023 Report
29 Femicides and 21 Suspicious Deaths of Women in August
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.
8 women were killed on the pretext of wanting to take decisions about their life
This month, 29 femicides were committed, and 21 women were found suspiciously dead. 8 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 the pretext of being difficult to care for, another on the pretext of a fight over the remote control and another on the pretext of hate. The reason behind 18 of the femicides could not be determined. The inability to determine the excuse behind the murder of 18 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 August, by city:
By whom were the women killed?
Of the 29 women killed in August, 17 were killed by the man they were married to, 4 by the man they were with, 3 by the man they used to be married to, 3 by an acquaintance and 1 by the man they used to be with. This month, 59% 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, 4 in the middle of the street, 2 at their workplace, 1 in a car and 1 in a construction site. It could not be determined where 1 woman were killed. 69% of the women killed this month were killed in their homes.
Women were mostly killed with firearms
14 of the women killed this month were killed with firearms, 10 with sharp objects, 2 by being beaten to death, 2 by being pushed from a height and 1 by strangulation. 48% 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. 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, 5 of the women were employed, and 1 was unemployed. The employment status of 23 of the women is unknown.
No Doubt, Plenty of Evidence!
Throughout the month of August, we encountered suspicious deaths of women that were disguised as suicides. There have always been suspicious deaths of women who actually died due to femicide, and they were always on the agenda of the We Will Stop Femicide Platform. We have been fighting for years to shed light on the many suspicious deaths that tried to be covered up and to find the perpetrators. We ensured justice for the suspicious deaths of Esin Güneş and Şule Çet through our struggle. In August, Zerrin Kılınç’s death was tried to be covered up as well. Despite a lot of evidence pointing to femicide, the judge acquitted the perpetrator. Thereupon, we, as the We Will Stop Femicide Platform, made a press statement. As a result, the Ministry of Family and Social Services objected to the acquittal decision. Similarly, Doğan Can Gündüz, who pushed Fatma Duygu Özkan from a height, tried to make the murder look like suicide but was arrested on the testimony of eyewitnesses. In the first 7 months of 2023, there were 146 suspicious deaths of women, and 86 of these deaths were due to falling from a height. We will not let these deaths go; we will reveal the truth behind the suspicious deaths of women!
We will always fight to stop femicides and shed light on suspicious deaths. We will also fight against those trying to close down our We Will Stop Femicide Platform Association. We are calling all friends for the final hearing of the unlawful closure case against our association and inviting them to the Çağlayan Courthouse on September 13th at 10.00.
State institutions are again manipulating femicide data. The data on femicides announced by the Ministry of Interior and the data we report often did not match. While we can name every woman who has been killed, the Ministry of Interior could not. This time, another state institution, TÜİK (Turkish Statistical Institute), announced incomplete data on femicide. Oddly, the data of these two state institutions, TÜİK and the Ministry of Interior, do not match. TÜİK also ignores suspicious deaths of women. State institutions, which could easily collect this data, are trying to deceive the public by distorting the data in order to hide the truth.
The New Execution Regulation Creates Danger for Women.
The new execution regulation paves the way for “good behaviour discount” in crimes against women and children. During the coronavirus pandemic, the information that the perpetrators of violence were released from prison was not communicated to the women who were subjected to violence. Many women had felt uneasy and in danger. Under Protection Law No. 6284, when perpetrators of violence are released from prison, the victims must be informed. However, officials do not provide this information. Elif Göbelek was killed by Murat Göbelek, the man she was in the process of divorce, when he was on leave from prison. In April, Ebru Güneş was murdered by Ahmet Göktaş, who had previously been imprisoned for inflicting violence against her and who she had a restraining order against. Ebru Güneş was not informed that he had been released from prison, and despite her restraining order, Ebru was not protected by the authorities. These amnesties encourage the perpetrators. As impunity continues and protective and preventive measures are not implemented, femicides continue to increase.
Law No. 6284 and Its Results
In İzmir, B. S. G. was stabbed in front of her two children by B. G. on the pretext of wanting a divorce. The perpetrator, who had multiple criminal records, fled the scene before the police came. B. S. G., who was taken to the hospital, remains in life-threatening condition.
In Hatay, 25-year-old Rakkuş Bayraktar was shot with a shotgun by Hüseyin Bayraktar, the man she was married to, on the pretext of refusing to reconcile. Rakkuş was hospitalized in critical condition. The perpetrator also shot and killed Rakkuş Bayraktar’s father, İyed Bayraktar, with the same gun.
As We Will Stop Femicides Platform and Women’s Assemblies, we were at Ankara Sincan West Courthouse for S., who was sexually abused by her father from the age of 14 to 18. The perpetrator was sentenced to 36 years in prison for “sexual abuse in a chain” 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 Sivas, 24-year-old Selda Karaca and Özay Gül were found dead on the side of the road together with gunshot wounds. Although the investigation is ongoing, it was learned that Özay Gül shot Selda and then committed suicide with the same gun.
In Samsun, 41-year-old Havva Gökçi was found dead in her house, shot with a rifle.
In Zonguldak, Gülfidan Öztürk, mother of three, allegedly suffered a fracture on her head after falling out of the car after an argument with A. A. Gülfidan lost her life in intensive care. It was learned that the perpetrator had previously harassed Gülfidan.
In Zonguldak, 29-year-old Gizem Kılınç died suspiciously after falling from the balcony of her friend Timuçin A.’s house.
In Şanlıurfa, 34-year-old Fatma Taştan was found shot dead with a firearm in her house.
In Istanbul, Fouza Lounici died suspiciously after falling from the hotel room window where Tunisian businessman Mohammed B. was staying. Traces of blood were found in the room.
In Samsun, 54-year-old Zeynep Sevcenko was found dead in her home.
What happened regarding women in August?
HÜDA PAR Chairman Zekeriya Yapıcıoğlu said in schools where coeducation continues, “young people can harass each other” and therefore “an educational revolution that will review our curriculum from scratch” is needed. With our struggle, both coeducation and girls will continue to exist in society.
In Bursa, ten people who attacked a transgender woman waiting at a bus stop with a fire extinguisher, a blank-firing pistol and various other objects were referred to the courthouse.
Two years into the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan, the pressure on women is increasing. In August, the Taliban banned women from entering Band-e-Amir National Park. In addition, girls over the age of 10 are prohibited from attending school in some regions of the country.
The players of the Spanish Women’s National Team, who won the World Cup, announced that they will not play in national matches in protest against Football Federation President Luis Rubiales, who kissed player Jennifer Hermoso on the lips.
On the first anniversary of Mahsa Amini’s murder, the Iranian parliament is debating a bill on “compulsory headscarf” to increase penalties for women who do not wear a headscarf.
In Iraq, media and social media companies were banned from using the terms “homosexual,” “homosexuality,” and “gender”. At the same time, the Iraqi parliament is debating a draft law that would impose the death penalty or life imprisonment for people who have homosexual relations.
The stories of the life struggles of the 29 women killed in August
In Istanbul, 30-year-old Nazlı Duman was stabbed to death in front of her 9-year-old son by Emrah Bolat, the man she was with.
In Giresun, 86-year-old Fatma Sağlık was shot to death with a shotgun by Ali Sağlık, the man she was married to, under the pretext of “not being dependent on anyone”. The perpetrator then committed suicide with the same gun.
In Urfa, Esma Kalenderli, mother of 3, was shot dead in the street with a firearm by Murat Utuş, the man she had divorced. It was learned that the perpetrator had 27 criminal records, Esma had a 3-month restraining order against the perpetrator, and her request for the perpetrator to be fitted with electronic handcuffs was rejected.
In Ankara, Derin S. was stabbed to death in her house by the man she used to be with.
In Denizli, 24-year-old Büşra Akpınar was stabbed to death along with her 4-year-old son by Ümit Mutlu Akpınar, the man she was married.
In Antalya, 48-year-old Elif Bayat was shot dead with a firearm by Ercan Bayat, the man she was married. The perpetrator then committed suicide with the same gun.
In Adıyaman, Ayla O. was killed by being hit in the head with an axe by Şıho O., the man she was married to.
In Istanbul, Gamze Akar was stabbed 15 times at her workplace by Halil A., the man she was with. The perpetrator then attempted suicide with the same knife. It was learned that Gamze had previously filed a complaint to the police against the perpetrator.
In Istanbul, 34-year-old Meryem Çap was shot to death with a firearm by Şehmuz Çap, the man she was married to. It was learned that Meryem had been subjected to violence by Şehmuz Çap for years and had taken a restraining order against the perpetrator 1.5 years ago.
In İstanbul, 38-year-old Fatma Duygu Özkan was pushed to death from the 4th floor by Doğan Can Gündüz.
In Tekirdağ, 23-year-old Züleyha Adıgüzel was strangled to death by Ümit Işık, the man she was with, on the pretext that she wanted to break up.
In Kastamonu, 34-year-old Melek Yavuz was stabbed to death by Ali Yavuz, the man she was in the process of divorce. The perpetrator also stabbed and seriously injured his mother-in-law, Ayşe Karakaş, who was at home during the incident.
In Balıkesir, 29-year-old Havva Altınöz was shot dead with a shotgun by Saygın Altınöz, the man she was in the process of divorce. She passed away 112 days later in the hospital where she was being treated. It was learned that Havva had a protection order during the incident.
In Adana, 43-year-old Deniz Suna and her 16-year-old son Alperen Suna were stabbed to death in their home by Cem Suna, the man Deniz was married.
In Niğde, Nukhet Gezerkaya was shot dead in her house by Siyami Gezerkaya, the man she was married to.
In Istanbul, 55-year-old Ivanna C. was stabbed to death in her house by Velat E., the son of the man she was married to.
In Antalya, 28-year-old Sümeyye Yavlak was stabbed to death at her workplace by Mehmet Yavlak, the man she was in the process of divorce, on the pretext that she refused to reconcile.
In Kocaeli, 36-year-old Yıldız Çınar was killed during an armed attack on the street by Selami Şahin, an acquaintance.
In Konya, 61-year-old İklime Başkaya was shot dead by Salli Başkaya, the man she was married to. The perpetrator was arrested.
In Konya, 42-year-old Safa Razzuk was stabbed to death by İmad Razzuk, the man she was married to. The perpetrator was caught.
In Bursa, 17-year-old Yasemin Cemre İçlikan, despite being under state protection, was killed by being pushed into an elevator shaft by Bedirhan G., the man she was with, on the pretext of refusing sexual intercourse. The perpetrator was arrested, and two people that were with him were released under judicial control.
In Adana, 74-year-old Naile Sarı, mother of four, was killed with a firearm by Abdullah Sarı, the man she was married to. The perpetrator was arrested.
In Ordu, 39-year-old Ayşe Çetin was beaten to death with a stick by Mükerrem Başarmak, the man she used to be married. The perpetrator had a restraining order against him last year because he was harassing Ayşe. The perpetrator, who had seven different criminal records, was detained.
In Istanbul, Binnaz Demir, mother of two, was killed with a firearm by Ömer Demir, the man she was married to. The perpetrator committed suicide after the incident.
In Nevşehir, 64-year-old Uygun İncirli was killed with a firearm by Ali İncirli, the man she was married. The perpetrator committed suicide after the incident.
In Ankara, Şerife Başaran was killed with a firearm by Hasan Bas?aran, the man she was in the process of divorce. The perpetrator committed suicide after the incident.
In Kahramanmaras?, 23-year-old Mislina Ölmez and her 60-year-old mother Sadet Ölmez were killed with a firearm by Oğuzhan Kuşat, the man Mislina used to be married. Mislina’s aunt Kübra Ölmez was also injured. The perpetrator committed suicide after the incident.
In Bursa, 45-year-old Leyla Koca was killed with a firearm by H. K., the man she was married. The perpetrator was detained.