2024 October Report*

48 Femicides and 23 Suspicious Deaths of Women in October

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 31 femicides could not be determined

This month, 48 femicides were committed, and 23 women were found suspiciously dead. 10 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, 3 women were killed on economic pretexts, 3 women were killed on the pretext that the perpetrator thought they cause his son’s suicide, and 1 woman was killed on the pretext that she insulted the woman the perpetrator was married to. The reason behind 31 of the 48 femicides could not be determined. The inability to determine the excuse behind the murder of 31 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 48 women killed in October, 19 were killed by the man they were married to, 6 by an acquaintance, 5 by the man they were with, 4 by a relative, 3 by their father, 3 by the man they used to be married to, 3 by the man they used to be with, 2 by their brother and 2 by their son. The relation of the perpetrator could not be determined for a woman. This month, 40% of the women who were killed were killed by the man they were married to.

Women were mostly killed in their homes

26 of the women were killed at their homes, 9 in a public place, 7 in the middle of the street, 2 on a waterfront, 1 in a deserted place, 1 in an entertainment venue and 1 in a teahouse. It could not be determined where a woman was killed. 54% of the women killed this month were killed in their homes.

Women were mostly killed with firearms

33 of the women killed this month were killed with firearms, 12 with sharp objects, 1 by being beaten to death, 1 by strangulation and 1 by being hit by a car. 69% of the women killed this month were killed with firearms.

We Will End Impunity! We Will Stop Sexual Harassment and Femicides

With 48 femicides this month, we recorded the highest number of femicides in a single month so far. Just a few months ago in June, we had reported that we recorded the highest number of femicides again. Misogynist discourses, politicians’ indifference to femicides, attacks on women's vested rights, the non-implementation and even hollowing out of Protection Law No. 6284, the withdrawal from the Istanbul Convention and policies of impunity have brought us to this point. Regardless of their age, hometown, education, marital status, at least 48 women were murdered by men in the 31 days of October. Femicides are increasing exponentially every month, every year. Despite this, the political authority says its withdrawal from the Istanbul Convention has no effect. How can they lie so easily when our data is so clear? Likewise, AKP member Derya Yanık said that femicides were happening even when the Istanbul Convention was in place. Yes, there were; because you were not and still are not implementing the Istanbul Convention and Protection Law No. 6284. The solution is to implement the laws. The only year in which the data on femicides showed a decrease was 2011, the year the Istanbul Convention was signed. If the laws had been implemented, 48 women who lost their lives this month would have been alive. To understand how important it is to implement Protection Law No. 6284, it is enough to look at the data of the Security General Directorate. According to this data, every hour at least 45 women file a report to the KADES application. In other words, at least half a million women face the risk of violence in a year. According to our data, at least 36 women have been murdered since the beginning of the year despite having applied to the police or prosecutor's office. In a statement this month, the President cited alcohol consumption as the reason for the murders. Are those who released the perpetrator of Evin Demiştaş from prison after only 8 months where he was serving time for another femicide, not the cause of the murders of women? If crimes against women in this country are reaching one peak after another, it means that someone is not doing their duty. Thousands of women are struggling with such a major social problem. Despite this, some in the political power still blame the women victims.

The political power, as a social state, is obliged to protect women and children, increase their welfare and provide a healthy and safe life. Yet, they make advertisements on women's methods of childbirth instead. While these advertisements were being aired, it is revealed that newborn babies are deliberately killed in private hospitals affiliated to the Ministry of Health as part of insurance fraud. Meanwhile, Sıla, the baby who was abused, dies and Narin's dead body is found. Instead of worrying about women’s methods of childbirth, ensure the safety of babies and children. Ministries are obliged to protect the health and safety of babies and children. MPs in the Turkish Grand National Assembly held a minute of silence after Narin's death. The duty of MPs is not to stay silent, but to be a voice.

We, women, are determined to fight for our rights. This month we were in the squares in 24 different provinces of Turkey, universities and even in Europe, protesting the femicides of İkbal, Ayşenur, Rojin and hundreds of others. Our organized struggle is getting stronger day by day. We will enforce Protection Law No. 6284; we will stop the femicides.

Sexual Violence Increases, Impunity Protects Perpetrators

Children and women continue to live under the threat of sexual violence.

In Adana, 31-year-old Oktay S., who tried to sexually harass a 15-year-old girl by showing his genitals in the middle of the street, was arrested. It was learned that the attacker had 24 criminal records.

In Ordu, 16 students at Aybastı Anatolian Imam Hatip High School were subjected to verbal and physical abuse by deputy principal K. Ç. K. Ç. was arrested and sent to prison.

In Batman, an investigation was opened into the death of an 8-year-old girl who was found hanging from a rope in front of her home and was alleged to committed suicide. Even though the forensic medical report found evidence of sexual abuse, the case was closed due to 'lack of concrete evidence'.

In Nevşehir, hairdresser S.D. sexually abused 7 women who were interning at his business. The attacker was arrested and sent to prison.

Case Developments of October

In the case of A. T., an autistic child who was sexually abused by her teacher, the defendant was sentenced to 30 years in prison without any reduction for 'sexual abuse against a child'.

In the case of Kübra Özten, who was shot in the head with a firearm by Ozan Ali Özten, the man she was married to, the Court of Appeal overturned the local court's verdict of aggravated life imprisonment without any reduction on the grounds that "the defendant's claim of infidelity was not examined".

In the case of Deniz Toker, who was murdered by Cem Suna together with her son Alperen, the defendant was sentenced to two aggravated life sentences without any reduction for 'intentional killing against a woman and spouse'.

In the case of Meryem Çap, who was shot dead with a firearm by Şeyhmus Çap, the man she was married to, the defendant was sentenced to aggravated life imprisonment without any discount for 'intentional homicide against a spouse'.

In the case of Zehra Gümüş, who was stabbed to death by the man she had divorced, the defendant was sentenced to aggravated life imprisonment without any reduction for 'intentional killing against the spouse'.

In the case of Nurtaç Canan, who was subjected to stalking and threats by Ragıp Canan, who violated the Protection Law No. 6284 decision and broke his electronic handcuff 3 times, the perpetrator was sentenced to 3 years and 3 months in total for 'stalking and threats'.

In the case of Aysel Aydemir, who was wounded with a firearm despite being protected under Protection Law No. 6284 by Ferhat Bingöl, the man she had divorced, the defendant was sentenced to 15 years in prison without any reduction for 'attempted murder against the spouse'.

In Manisa, Yılmaz Akman, who used violence against pregnant Sude Naz Atak in the middle of the street on August 16th and who had 18 previous criminal records, was released on judicial control conditions. However, the objection made by the Akhisar Public Prosecutor's Office was accepted and the perpetrator remains in detention.

The investigation into the death of Aleyna Çakır was completed and a lawsuit was filed against the perpetrator demanding up to 18 years in prison.

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, Dilber M. was found dead in her home under suspicious circumstances after arguing with Turgut M., the man she was married to. It was learned that Turgut M. cut himself with a knife after the incident.

In Istanbul, a teacher, whose name couldn't be identified, fell to her death from the 6th floor of her home. The man she was with was detained. 

In Aydın, 38-year-old Gülşah Gezer was found hanging with a rope in an excursion spot.

In Van, 21-year-old university student Rojin Kabaiş was found dead on a lake shore after being missing for 18 days. Her family claims it was not suicide.

In Burdur, 38-year-old Meylıs Atchaparov was found dead in front of the farm where she worked.

In Istanbul, Sauda A. was found dead with her baby.

In Ankara, 27-year-old riding instructor Semanur Arslan fell to her death from the 43rd floor of the building where her friend lived. Semanur had previously told people that she was being threatened and followed.

The stories of the life struggles of the 48 women killed in October

In Aydın, 34-year-old Sibel Aygan, mother of two, was shot dead with a firearm on her way to work by Mustafa Yıldırım, the man she used to be married to. It was learned that the perpetrator killed Sibel Aygan on the pretext that he thought she was cheating on him.

In İzmir, 31-year-old Aylin Palas was shot dead with a shotgun by Musa Palas, the man she was married to. The perpetrator attempted suicide after the incident.

In Istanbul, 19-year-old İkbal Uzuner and Ayşenur Halil were killed by Semih Çelik. The perpetrator stabbed Ayşenur in her home in Eyüpsultan. Later, he decapitated İkbal in the Edirnekapı city walls and committed suicide.

In Tekirdağ, Fatma Özdemir was shot dead with a firearm at a teahouse near her workplace by Eren Uzuner, on the pretext of jealousy. The perpetrator also killed another person and injured two.

In Mersin, Sonay Öztürk Aslan, mother of one, was strangled to death by U. A., the man she was with. The perpetrator committed suicide with a firearm.

In Diyarbakır, 29-year-old Bedriye Işık was killed with a firearm by Muhammed Recai Işık, the man she was in the process of divorce. The perpetrator committed suicide with the same weapon.

In Istanbul, 35-year-old Kübra Güler was shot dead with a firearm in front of her child by her father-in-law Mehmet Fidyel, when she went to the house of the man she was in the process of divorce to see her child.

In Manisa, 21-year-old Pelin Karaca had been missing since the 26th of September. Her body was found buried in the woods in Uşak. It was learned that the perpetrator Ali. U ran her over with his car and buried her there.

In Tekirdağ, 2-year-old Sıla Yeniçeri died due to sexual assault and violence. Family members, neighbors, and neighbors’ children were arrested. 

In Istanbul, 37-year-old Berivan Önala was shot dead with a firearm in the garden of a hospital by Erhan Önala, the man she was married to. The perpetrator committed suicide with the same weapon.

In Istanbul, 42-year-old Gülcan Usal was shot dead with a firearm in the middle of the street by Yılmaz U., the man she was married to. The perpetrator, who had many criminal records, escaped after the incident but was later detained. 

In Istanbul, 49-year-old Güler Muslu, mother of six, was shot dead with a firearm by Adem Muslu, the man she was married to. The perpetrator was detained.

In Gaziantep, 30-year-old Emine Demir and her four children were shot dead with a firearm by Ahmet Demir, the man Emine was married to. Her daughters 5-year-old Azra Demir, 9-year-old Edanur Demir, and 11-year-old Medine Demir, and her son 4-year-old Yusuf Eymen died. The perpetrator committed suicide after the incident.

In Bursa, 70-year-old Cavidan Aydın was stabbed to death by M. K., the grandson of the man she was with. The perpetrator was detained. 

In Ankara, Nazife Çördük was shot dead with a firearm by Seyit Ahmet Abbasoğlu. The perpetrator attempted suicide after the incident.

In Kırıkkale, 47-year-old Sevgi Gülden Yalçıner had been missing for 19 days. It was revealed that she had been shot dead with a firearm and thrown into the river. Sevgi’s brothers Ş. G. and Y. G., her neighbor K. U., D. G., and D. U. were arrested.

In İzmir, 34-year-old Özge Polat was killed by Serkan Yıldız, the man she used to be married to. The perpetrator committed suicide after the incident. It was revealed that the perpetrator had previously served a month in prison after he injured Özge and abducted her child. After his release, he continued to threaten Özge and her family with death. Özge had previously gotten a two-month restraining order against him.

In Balıkesir, 46-year-old Gülçin Kaya and 77-year-old Sevim Kaya were stabbed to death by Murat Özer. The perpetrator went to the house where Nezihe Nurçin Özer, with whom he was in the process of divorce, lived with her family and killed Nezihe’s sister Gülçin, and mother Sevim. The perpetrator was detained.

In Samsun, 44-year-old Huriye Özkan was stabbed to death by Ömer Teker, the man she used to be with. Huriye's daughter N. D. was also hurt during the incident. There was a restraining order and a complaint present against the perpetrator. The perpetrator was arrested.

In Adana, 40-year-old Ayşegül Sefer was shot dead with a firearm by Emre Naynal, the man she was with. The perpetrator committed suicide after the incident.

In Adana, 75-year-old Nimet Araz was first stabbed and then strangled to death with a cane by her son Haceli Araz.

In Sakarya, 47-year-old Nuran Sevigen was shot dead with a firearm by Ömer Sevigen, the man she was married to. The perpetrator committed suicide after the incident.

In Kastamonu, 24-year-old nurse Burçin Sevgi Telli, mother of one, was shot dead with a pistol by Ender Telli, the man she was married to. The perpetrator was taken into custody.

In Hatay, 55-year-old Manal Kıyılı was shot dead with a firearm by Hasan Kıyılı, the man she was married to. The perpetrator was arrested.

In Kocaeli, 37-year-old, Semira Ateş was shot dead with a firearm by Tuncay Ateş, the man she was married to. The perpetrator, who had a criminal record, was arrested.

In Çankırı, 45-year-old Dilek Dikmen was stabbed by Aydın Yücedağ, the man she was with. Dilek lost her life after 27 days. The perpetrator was arrested.

In Şanlıurfa, Emine D. was shot dead with a firearm by Mahmut D., the man she was married to. The perpetrator was taken into custody.

In Kastamonu, Şaizer Gebeşoğlu was shot dead with a firearm by her son Özkan Gebeşoğlu. The perpetrator committed suicide after the incident.

In Adana, 22-year-old Güldane Gerçek, 20-year-old Gaye Gerçek, and 44-year-old Şenay Gerçek were shot dead with a firearm by Şemşettin Erkuvan. The perpetrator was the father of the man Güldane used to be with. Gaye was Güldane’s sister and Şenay was her mother. The perpetrator was caught hiding in the forest.

In Diyarbakır, 47-year-old Evin Demirtaş was shot dead with a firearm by Abdullah Şeyhmusoğlu, the man she used to be with. It was learned that the perpetrator had previously killed the woman he was married to but was released after 8 months in prison.

In İzmir, 34-year-old Hatice Tosun, mother of three, was shot dead with a shotgun by Mehmet Tosun, the man she was married to, on the pretext that he thought she was cheating on him with her step-brother.

In Mersin, 44-year-old Fatma Biricik was shot dead with a shotgun by Atilla Biricik, the man she was married to. It was learned that the restraining order Fatma had gotten against the perpetrator ended 2 days before her death. The perpetrator committed suicide.

In Konya, 45-year-old teacher Ebru Küçüktaşdemir was stabbed to death by Abdullah Küçüktaşdemir, the man she was married to, on the pretext that she didn’t want to sell her inheritance.

In Ankara, A. C. was murdered by S. C., the man she was married to. The perpetrator went to the police claiming A. C. had committed suicide, but the investigations revealed that it was a murder.

In Bursa, 52-year-old dentist Yasemin Uludağ, mother of two, was shot dead with a firearm by Atilla Çetin, the man she was in the process of divorce.

In Hatay, 32-year-old Sevgi Gezer, mother of three, was shot dead with a shotgun in a bus station where she came to pick up her children, by E. G., the man she was in the process of divorce.

In Nevşehir, 28-year-old hairdresser Mina Özcan was shot dead with a firearm in a parking lot by Hüseyin Ç., the man she used to be married to.

In Istanbul, 18-year-old Duygu Şahin was stabbed to death by her cousin Talip Yıldız, when she was visiting her aunt.

In Batman, 32-year-old Tuba Adım, mother of one, was killed along with her 11-year-old son Ali Ansar by Nesim Adım, the man she was married to.

In Muğla, 50-year-old Yasemin Yorulmaz was first hit on the head with a bottle and then stabbed to death by Tuncay Yorulmaz, the man she was in the process of divorce.

In Istanbul, 32-year-old Ayşe Koçak was shot dead in front of her son by her brother Harun Koçak.

*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”