2024 September Report*
34 Femicides and 20 Suspicious Deaths of Women in September
The fight to stop femicides in Turkey has been going on for 14 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.
The reason behind 18 femicides could not be determined
This month, 34 femicides were committed, and 20 women were found suspiciously dead. 12 women were killed on the pretext of wanting to make 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, 1 on the pretext of hate and 1 woman was killed while she was with her friend who was the target. The reason behind 18 of the 34 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 September, by city:
By whom were the women killed?
Of the 34 women killed in September, 16 were killed by the man they were married to, 4 by the man they were with, 4 by the man they used to be with, 2 by their son, 2 by an acquaintance, 1 by a relative, 1 by her father, 1 by the man she used to be married to and 1 by a stranger. The relation of the perpetrator could not be determined for 2 of women. This month, 47% of the women who were killed were killed by the man they were married to.
Women were mostly killed in their homes
22 of the women were killed at their homes, 6 in the middle of the street, 3 at their workplace, 1 in an hotel and 1 in a car. It could not be determined where 1 woman was killed. 65% of the women killed this month were killed in their homes.
Women were mostly killed with firearms
18 of the women killed this month were killed with firearms, 10 with sharp objects, 4 by being beaten to death and 2 by strangulation. 53% of the women killed this month were killed with firearms.
Criminals roam the streets. Women are dying. Those who kill women go unpunished.
It was revealed that the perpetrator of police officer Şeyda Yılmaz, who was killed on duty in September, had 26 different criminal records. It was also revealed that the perpetrator’s mother, who had previously been subjected to violence by the perpetrator, had repeatedly complained to the police. According to our data, the perpetrators of 31 women killed in 2024 had previous criminal records. Perpetrators are encouraged by impunity, short sentences, and sexist reductions in sentences. Similarly, the perpetrator of Döne Bozdemir, who was murdered in Ankara by the man she was in the process of divorce, had electronic handcuffs and a restraining order against him. He was even given a 3-day forced imprisonment sentence for violating the measure. The perpetrator who killed Berrin Yılmaz in İzmir also had several criminal records and a search warrant against him. In the meantime, Sinem T. was sent to prison for not showing her children to the perpetrator who stabbed her. The perpetrator had received a 9-month sentence for stabbing Sinem. Sinem went to prison for trying to protect her children. This situation reveals how justice works in reverse. Those who commit crimes against women should receive deterrent sentences, and mechanisms to protect women should be effectively implemented. The policy of impunity, the negligence of the authorities and the failure to implement existing mechanisms encourage perpetrators. We will enforce Protection Law No. 6284; we will stop femicides.
The verdict was announced in the case of H.K.G., who was forced to marry at a young age and was sexually assaulted for many years. The perpetrator Kadir İstekli was sentenced to 36 years in prison for ‘sexual abuse against a child’ and ‘successive sexual abuse’, and the father Yusuf Ziya Gümüşel was sentenced to 18 years and 9 months in prison for ‘participation in the crime of sexual abuse’ and ‘neglect of parental duties’.
The investigation into the murder of 8-year-old Narin Güran in Diyarbakır continues. Twelve people have been arrested in connection with the murder. However, the perpetrator has still not been found. It was revealed that there have been many suspicious deaths of women in the family in the past years. An effective investigation must be conducted. Find the perpetrators of Narin and other women in her family who were murdered. We, Women’s Assemblies, are here for every girl and woman killed!
Sexual Violence Increases, Impunity Protects Perpetrators
In Adana, 8-year-old E. B. was abused by D. C., the man who lived in the same building as her. The suspect who fled was later caught and arrested.
In Osmaniye, 10 of 18 people suspected of abusing 14-year-old E. B. were arrested, and eight were released on judicial control conditions.
In 2023 in Bursa, 16-year-old E.T. was sexually assaulted by 20-year-old Firuz Naobi, Naser Ahmed Azizi, Samet Ali Nazeri and Sufi Pivani. In the case against the four defendants, the court sentenced Naobi and Nazeri to a total of 52 years and 6 months imprisonment since it was a ‘successive offence’; 40 years and 6 months for ‘sexual abuse of a child’ and 12 years for ‘deprivation of liberty of a person’. Azizi and Pivani were sentenced each to 36 years for ‘sexual abuse of a child’ and 12 years for ‘deprivation of liberty’.
Case Developments of September
In the case of Aslıhan Sinem Çiçek, opened for ‘qualified sexual assault’, ‘plunder’ and ‘deprivation of liberty’ in connection with her suspicious death, the judge took an extraordinary step. The Prosecutor’s Office and the Ministry of Justice had rejected the request to open a ‘murder case’. However, the judge stated that there might be a possibility of intentional killing and sent a letter to the Prosecutor’s Office to open a murder case and merge it with the existing case.
Harun Gül, who had killed Serpil Kartal on the street in Arnavutköy, was sentenced to aggravated life imprisonment without any reduction. The verdict in the Serpil Kartal case came out faster than usual.
In the case of Vasfiye Su, who was killed by her throat being slit by Vedat Emektar, the man she was married to, the defendant was sentenced to aggravated life imprisonment on the charge of ‘intentional killing against a woman and spouse’.
In the case of Hülya Şellavcı, who was murdered despite the Protection Law No. 6284 decision, by Kaffar Yeğin, the man whom she wanted to divorce, the perpetrator was sentenced to aggravated life imprisonment without any reduction on the charge of ‘intentional killing against a woman and spouse’.
In the case of 17-year-old Meleknur Özgener, who was murdered by Ercan Şahin, the defendant was sentenced to aggravated life imprisonment without any reduction on the charge of ‘murder against a child’.
In Antalya, 30-year-old Ceylan Sümer, mother of four, was stabbed to death by Metin Sümer, the man she was married to. The defendant was sentenced to aggravated life imprisonment for ‘intentional killing against a wife’.
In Mardin, Mehmet Şiyar Ecevit, who stabbed 25-year-old Vatfa Ecevit 17 times on the day she was discharged from the hospital after giving birth, was sentenced to aggravated life imprisonment without any reduction for ‘deliberate murder against the spouse’.
In Istanbul, Harun Gül, who murdered Serpil Kartal, whom he was in the process of divorce, in the middle of the street, was sentenced to aggravated life imprisonment without any reduction.
What happened regarding women in September?
It was decided to open the grave of Cem Garipoğlu, who killed Münevver Karabulut. Cem Garipoğlu’s bone samples will be taken from the grave to be opened, and a bone match will be made.
On the 2nd anniversary of the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, who was detained by the morality police in Tehran for wearing her headscarf ‘inappropriately’ and died during interrogation, Iranian women continue to fight for their freedom.
In France, Gisele Pelicot was drugged for 10 years by Dominique Pelicot, the man she was married to, and raped by 50 different men, including Dominique Pelicot himself. The perpetrator pleaded guilty to all charges in his trial.
The king of Thailand signed the bill legalizing same-sex marriages, making Thailand the first country in South Asia to recognize same-sex marriage. The new law will also give same-sex couples adoption and inheritance rights.
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 Van, 21-year-old Zehra K. was found dead in her house.
In Kayseri, 26-year-old pregnant Gizem Aksu died after falling from the 3rd floor.
In Rize, 14-year-old G. K. died after falling down the stairwell of her school.
In Gaziantep, Y. K., mother of three, was found dead in her house after a gunshot was heard.
In Niğde, 43-year-old G. Ç., mother of two, died after falling from the 3rd floor.
The stories of the life struggles of the 34 women killed in September
In Adıyaman, 26-year-old Merve Daşcan, mother of three, was shot in the head in front of their children by Ekrem Daşcan, the man she was married to. The perpetrator committed suicide with the same gun.
In Hatay, 40-year-old R. Z. was first kidnapped by her neighbor H. K. to steal her gold and then was killed by being hit on the head with a stick. It was learned that the perpetrator threw R. Z. into a canal on the roadside after killing her.
In Samsun, 75-year-old Naciye Y. was killed by being hit on the head with an adze by Osman Y., the man she was married to and who had Alzheimer’s disease.
In Aydın, 29-year-old Neriman Yükçü was shot dead with a shotgun by Eren Dildöken, the man she used to be married to. It was learned that the perpetrator had previously subjected Neriman to violence, and she had filed a complaint against him.
In Istanbul, Havva Kılıç was strangled to death by Osman Kılıç, the man she was married to. The perpetrator committed suicide after the incident.
In Kayseri, 43-year-old factory worker Hatice Gül, mother of three, was shot dead with a firearm by Mustafa Bozkurt, the man she used to be with. It was learned that Hatice had filed a complaint against the perpetrator due to his threats and stalking and that the restraining order she had gotten against him expired in August.
In Kocaeli province, 67-year-old cancer patient Dursine Canbazoğlu was shot dead with a firearm by retired sergeant Erdoğan Canbazoğlu, the man she was married to.
In Mersin, Feriye Gözüala and her friend Hamiyet G., who were leaving the factory where they were working, were shot with a firearm by Çetin Gençay, the man Hamiyet used to be with. Feriye died at the scene while Hamiyet was seriously injured. The perpetrator committed suicide with the same gun.
In Sakarya, 35-year-old Sehle Gündüz, mother of three, was shot dead with a firearm by Serdar Sert, the man she was with, in the beauty salon she ran. Sehle died in the hospital.
In Istanbul, 27-year-old Maia A. was beaten to death in her hotel room by Mehmet E., the man she was with.
In Konya, 30-year-old Elif Ceren Arslan, mother of four and who worker at a massage parlor, was killed with a sharp instrument by Emrah Demirkıran, the man she used to be with. It was learned that the perpetrator had a restraining order at the time of the incident.
In Konya, 35-year-old Çiğdem Eskidemirci, mother of two and who had been missing for 4 months, was found dead in the garden of a house. One of the detained suspects, G. S., confessed that he stabbed Çiğdem to death.
In Gaziantep, 32-year-old Hatice Rençber was shot dead with a firearm by her father İsmail Rençber, on the pretext that she wanted to meet her friends.
In Istanbul, Aysel Yıldız was stabbed to death by her son Ercan Yıldız. It was learned that the perpetrator lived in the same house with Aysel’s dead body for two days.
In Antalya, 57-year-old Fadim Temirhanoğulları was shot dead with a firearm by Savaş Temirhanoğulları, the man she was in the process of divorce and who she had gotten a restraining order against.
In Ankara, 44-year-old Döne Bozdemir, mother of four and who worked in a pizzeria, was shot in the back at a subway station by Cafer Bozdemir, the man she was in the process of divorce. It was learned that the perpetrator had subjected Döne to violence many times, and Döne had issued a restraining order and electronic handcuff measures against the perpetrator. It was stated that the perpetrator violated the injunction and was given compulsory detention, but it was not implemented.
In Istanbul, Zebinisio Dayıyovara, who worked as a caretaker in a house, was stabbed to death by Musa G., the man she was with.
In Istanbul, V. E. was stabbed to death by C. E., the man she was married to, on the pretext that she did not want to live with her mother-in-law and father-in-law.
In Eskişehir in January, Safinaz Ayten was found dead in her home under suspicious circumstances. It was revealed that Mehmet U. had killed and robbed her. Life imprisonment was requested for the perpetrator.
In Diyarbakır, Sudenaz U. was stabbed to death by Ali Aküzüm and İlyas Yavaş, who broke into her house to rob her. The perpetrators looted the house and also injured Sudenaz’s roommate, G. The perpetrators were sent to prison.
In Kırklareli, 38-year-old Ebru G. was shot dead with a firearm by her son U. G. The perpetrator was arrested.
In Aksaray, 26-year-old Fadimana Ok, mother of two, was shot dead with a firearm by Recep Ok, the man she was in the process of divorce. The perpetrator was killed by Fadimana’s father.
In Aydın, 33-year-old Ebru Öcal, mother of two, was stabbed to death by Cihan Kaman, the man she used to be with. The perpetrator committed suicide after the incident.
In Manisa, 39-year-old Seda Eller, mother of two, was strangled to death by Gökhan Eller, the man she was in the process of divorce and whom she had gotten a restraining order against. The perpetrator was arrested.
In Izmir, 42-year-old Berin Yılmaz was shot dead with a firearm by Serdal Çelik, the man she used to be with. The perpetrator committed suicide after the incident.
In Kahramanmaraş, 21-year-old Yaren Küçük was shot dead with a firearm by Yusuf Bektaş, the man she was with. The perpetrator committed suicide after the incident.
In Malatya, 37-year-old Nuran Karayiğit, mother of three, was shot dead with a firearm by Recep Karayiğit, the man she was in the process of divorce. The perpetrator was caught.
In İzmir, 32-year-old Esin Karabıyık was stabbed by Özkan Karabıyık, the man she was in the process of divorce. 29 days after the incident, Esin lost her life. The perpetrator had also killed Ebru Duvarı and committed suicide after the incident.
In Hatay, 34-year-old Ayşe Koçak, mother of five, was stabbed to death by Yusuf Koçak, the man she was married to. The perpetrator has still not been caught.
In Adıyaman, Zehra Rehber, mother of four, was shot dead with a firearm by Erdem Rehber, the man she was married to. The perpetrator committed suicide after the incident.
In Afyon, Satı Aktan, mother of three, was shot dead with a firearm by Seydi Aktan, the man she was married to. The perpetrator committed suicide after the incident.
In Kars, 18-year-old Sıla M. was shot dead with a firearm by Dila M., the man she was married to. The perpetrator was caught.
In Antalya, 50-year-old Gülfer Öter was shot dead with a firearm by Süleyman Öter, the man she was married to. The perpetrator committed suicide after the incident.
In Karabük, 72-year-old Gülsiye Ortakcı was shot dead with a firearm by her relative Hüseyin Ortakcı. The perpetrator committed suicide after the incident.
*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 analyze, 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 individuals of the female gender, from embryo to fetus, infant to child, 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”