2024 November Report*

32 Femicides and 26 Suspicious Deaths of Women in November

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 23 femicides could not be determined

This month, 32 femicides were committed, and 26 women were found suspiciously dead. 7 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, 1 woman was killed on the pretext of witnessing the death of another woman and 1 woman was killed on the pretext of asking for money. The reason behind 23 of the 32 femicides could not be determined. The inability to determine the excuse behind the murder of 23 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 November, by city:

By whom were the women killed?

Of the 32 women killed in November, 17 were killed by the man they were married to, 5 by the man they were with, 3 by their son, 2 by a relative, 2 by the man they used to be with, 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 1 woman. This month, 53% 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, 2 in the middle of the street, 2 in a car, 2 in a field, 2 in a public place and 2 in their workplace. It could not be determined where 3 women were killed.63% of the women killed this month were killed in their homes.

Women were mostly killed with firearms

16 of the women killed this month were killed with firearms, 8 by strangulation, 6 with sharp objects and 1 by being beaten to death. The weapon which was used to kill 1 woman could not be determined. 50% of the women killed this month were killed with firearms.

On November 25th, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, we protested in many cities. Once again, we showed how strong we are together. We faced arrests and restrictions. İstiklal Street, one of the most famous streets in the world, was closed just so women could not protest. But we continued our demonstrations and organized struggle in many parts of Turkey as we always have. We were in the squares and streets in Istanbul, Ankara, İzmir, Eskişehir, Konya, Manisa, Hatay, Ordu, Kayseri, Samsun, Samsun, Gebze, Antalya, Bursa, Adana, Mersin, Gaziantep, Balıkesir, Çorum and even in Strasbourg, France, saying “We will live with and let live the Protection Law No. 6284”, “Don't be Afraid: Against Misogynists, Abusers and Patriarchy, There is Women’s Assemblies!”

In many universities and women's organizations, we talked about Protection Law No. 6284, came together with women, and increased our solidarity. This law, which guarantees women's right to life, is one of the most important legal regulations to prevent violence against women and protect victims of violence. We will defend 6284 and ensure its implementation!

Public support for pre-school childcare and education is inadequate in Turkey. While the nurseries opened by the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality set an important example in this field, the patriarchal mentality is trying to confine women to the home by closing these nurseries. The nursery services provided by municipalities are a great support for women. Providing domestic work, which confines women to the home, as a public service paves the way for women to participate more widely in employment. Childcare is one of them. The appointment of a man as the head of the ‘Parliamentary Commission for the Prevention of Violence and Discrimination against Women’ reflects the same mentality.

While state institutions such as municipalities are being prevented from opening nurseries, reactionary sects are opening institutions for pre-school children under the name 'Sıbyan Mektepleri' (Infant Schools). At the same time, the government, which remains silent in the face of the abuse and murder of children, exhibits another example of systematic decay by not investigating the heads of the hospitals involved in the Yenidoğan Çetesi scandal.

Those who blame the woman in İzmir, who had to leave her five children at home in order to work and bring money home, are the ones responsible for those children not being able to reach the minimum living standards. They fail to provide the services required of a social state so they attempt to cover up their lack in completing their own responsibilities by blaming women.

Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya's statement blaming women victims is another manifestation of this patriarchy. Saying “they should not have opened the door” for women who have been attacked and murdered by men is targeting the victims and exonerating the perpetrators. It is their duty to implement and follow Protection Law No. 6284 and protect women! Because you fail to fulfill this duty and continue with misogynist and victim-blaming discourse and policies, the number of femicides is breaking record after record. 

Protection Law No. 6284 is one of the most important legal regulations to protect women's right to life and prevent violence against women. This law aims to protect not only women but also children, family members, and victims of violence. As women, we will defend 6284, implement it, and build a more equal future together!

Sexual Violence Increases, Impunity Protects Perpetrators

H. F. V., a general medicine doctor at Suruç State Hospital in Şanlıurfa, sexually harassed 25-year-old L. İ. during an examination. The attacker was sent to prison after the harassment was revealed through CCTV footage.

A student working at the KYK (General Directorate of Credit and Dormitories Agency) Girls' Dormitory in Killis was sexually harassed by the kitchen supervisor. Students staying at the dormitory protested against sexual violence.

In Sakarya, 63-year-old H. A. who took four girls to his workshop on the pretext of showing them the dollhouse he made and abused them, was arrested for ‘sexual abuse of a child’ and sent to prison.

Case Developments of November

In the case of Aybike Çelik, who was subjected to violence by Can Tunaboylu, the defendant's 1 year and 9 months imprisonment sentence for “intentional injury” was converted to probation due to the deferment of the announcement of the verdict.

Eyüp Turan Karabağ, who killed Bahar Taşkömür when she wanted to get divorced, was sentenced to aggravated life imprisonment for ‘intentional killing against wife and woman’ without any reduction.

In the case of Nurtaç Canan, who was subjected to stalking and threats by Ragıp Canan, who violated the Protection Law No. 6284 order and broke his electronic handcuffs 3 times, the perpetrator was sentenced to compulsory imprisonment.

In the case of Feray Balkan, who was murdered with a firearm by Seçkin Ergü, the man she had divorced, on the pretext of 'insulting his manhood', the defendant was sentenced to aggravated life imprisonment for ‘murder against woman and spouse’ without any reduction.

What happened regarding women in November?

Former Imam Hatip Middle School principal Ergin Kaya Kırbıyık, who was suspended for telling parents, “I will interfere with students who do not wear headscarves and who wear shorts” and for breaking the door of the female vice principal's office, was given an 'outstanding achievement' award by the Ministry of Education.

AKP Istanbul MP Mustafa Hulki Cevizoğlu was elected as the chair of the Parliamentary Commission on the Prevention of Violence and Discrimination against Women. Speaking at the opening of the commission's meeting, Cevizoğlu claimed that despite Turkey's withdrawal from the Istanbul Convention, it has fulfilled every requirement of the Convention.

Ahou Daryaei, who was attacked in Iran for not wearing her headscarf in accordance with Islamic law and for wearing clothes considered 'immodest', took off her clothes in protest against the violence she was subjected to. Ahou Daryaei was allegedly released and returned to her family.

In Diyarbakır, police officers called women and told them that the slogan “Jin, Jiyan, Azadî” (meaning Woman, Life, Freedom in Kurdish) was banned. Women, on the other hand, protested on the On Gözlü Bridge, chanting “Jin Jiyan Azadî” and carrying torches and erbanes. 

Trustees were appointed to Batman, Hakkari, Mardin, and many other municipalities with a decision that disregarded the will of the people. We do not accept this trustee practice of the government, which ignores the rule of law and the democratic process!

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 Kayseri, M. G., who got married 1.5 months ago, was found dead by hanging in her house.

In Karaman, 20-year-old Esra Günvar was found dead in the middle of the street with a gunshot wound.

In Malatya, 22-year-old Hatice Tunç was found dead in front of her dormitory building.

In Tekirdağ, 22-year-old Berna İspir was found dead, along with her cousin, shot dead in the head in a car parked in a cemetery.

In Antalya, 49-year-old Sabahat Kocaman was run over with a truck by Kerim Kocaman, the man she was married to. The suspect was detained.

In Tekirdağ, Yağmur E. and Kübra Rabia Y., both 15 years old, were found dead shot with a firearm at their house.

The stories of the life struggles of the 32 women killed in November

In Izmir, 33-year-old marketing manager Duygu Bölükbaşı had been found hanging in the bathroom of her house two years ago. While the incident was initially thought to be suicide, it turned out that she was murdered by Emre Turan, the man she was with. The perpetrator was arrested.

In Afyon, Satı Aktan, mother of three, was shot dead with a shotgun by Seydi Aktan, the man she was married to. Her son M. A. was also wounded during the incident. The perpetrator committed suicide with the same gun.

In Istanbul, 6-year-old Şirin Elmas Hanilçi was strangled to death by 49-year-old M. Ö. It was revealed that the perpetrator murdered Şirin on the pretext that she asked him for money and he did not want to give it.

In Adana, 29-year-old Fahriye Asena Eskikanbur was shot dead in the pastry shop where she worked by M. K. D., the man she used to be with, on the pretext of rejecting his offer to reconcile.

In Hatay, nurse Elif Gözen, mother of one, was shot dead in her house by Alaattin Gözen, the man she was married to.

In Konya, 25-year-old Bahriye Kalaycı, mother of one, was stabbed to death by Murat Ulaşan, the man she used to be married to, after being taken to an empty field on the pretext of talking.

In Kahramanmaraş it was revealed that 24-year-old Gülcan Alıç and 31-year-old Fatma Alıç, who had been missing for 19 years, were murdered by Behçet Y., the man Gülcan was with, and his cousin Mevlüt D. It was learned that Gülcan was murdered on the pretext of jealousy and Fatma was murdered on the pretext of being a witness to the murder.

In Kocaeli, Esma Söğütçü, mother of three, was strangled to death in her sleep by Yakup Söğütçü, the man she was married to and who was on leave from prison.

In Kahramanmaraş, 25-year-old Elif Bal was shot dead with a firearm by Kahraman Bal, the man she was in the process of divorce. The perpetrator committed suicide after the incident.

In Uşak, 46-year-old Asiye Yıldırım was stabbed to death by her son Ramazan Yıldırım. The perpetrator was caught.

In Ankara, Şükriye Karadeniz, mother of two, was shot dead with a firearm by Kenan Karadeniz, the man she was married to. The perpetrator committed suicide after the incident. 

In Bursa, 35-year-old Özlem B. was strangled to death with a belt by Hakan B., the man she was in the process of divorce. The perpetrator attempted suicide after the incident but was prevented from doing so. The perpetrator was arrested. 

In Kırklareli, 58-year-old Aysel Çetin was murdered with an axe by Recep Çetin, the man she was married to. The perpetrator was arrested. 

In Izmir, 32-year-old Aslıhan Göktaş was shot dead with a firearm by Hüsamettin Göktaş, the man she was in the process of divorce.  The perpetrator committed suicide after the incident. 

In Mersin, Ayşe Gökten, mother of three, was shot dead with a firearm by Veysel Gökten, the man she was in the process of divorce The perpetrator was detained.

In Antalya, 52-year-old Hülya Ulumaskan was shot dead with a firearm by Mehmet Ulumaskan, the man she was married to. The perpetrator committed suicide after the incident.

In Istanbul, 52-year-old Güllü Özcan was shot dead with a firearm by Binali Kara, the man she was with. The perpetrator committed suicide after the incident.

In Mersin, 24-year-old Aybeniz Top was strangled to death by Hasan F., the man she was living with. It was learned that Aybeniz had previously fled Hasan F. because she was subjected to violence but had to return. The perpetrator was arrested.

In Sakarya, 32-year-old Şelale Mirzalı was shot dead with a firearm at her workplace by Alattin Akbaş, the man she used to be with. The perpetrator was arrested.

In Iğdır, 25-year-old Esra Bağcı, mother of one, was stabbed to death in her car by sergeant Ferdi Bağcı, the man she was in the process of divorce.

In Aksaray, 44-year-old Negül Adak, mother of three, was shot dead in the head in her sleep by Savaş Adak, the man she was married to.

In Ankara, 41-year-old Elif Bozkurt was killed by her throat being slit by Servet Bozkurt, the man she was in the process of divorce, on the pretext of jealousy. It was learned that the perpetrator, who had been under house arrest and had a ban on leaving the country, removed his electronic handcuffs and fled his house. The perpetrator was caught and arrested.

In Şanlıurfa, 43-year-old Leyla Üren was found dead stabbed in the neck. Ahmad El Awwad was arrested after security cameras were analyzed.

In Istanbul, Bahtiyar Aladağ killed his 55-year-old mother Necmiye Aladağ, his wife Sevim Aladağ, Sevim's mother Türkan Soylu, his 10-year-old son, his father, his cousin, and one other person. He also wounded 2 others.

In Gaziantep, 37-year-old Yeşim Türkmen was shot dead with a firearm by Mert Türkmen, the man she was married to.

In Istanbul, 32-year-old Filiz Aras was strangled to death by Sadık Aras, the man she was married to, on the pretext that she allegedly cheated on him.

In Bolu, Sevinç Alemdar was killed in a caravan by Selçuk Şahin, the man she was with. An empty grave was found near the caravan.

In Antalya, 39-year-old Hale Akbaş Poyraz was shot dead with a firearm by Abdullah Poyraz, the man she was married to.

In Istanbul, 79-year-old Meral S. was beaten to death by her son Emre İ. Her body was found after her neighbors, who had not heard from her, reported the sit

*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”