2024 Annual Report*
As the We Will Stop Femicide Platform, we have been recording data on femicide since 2010. 2024 was a record-breaking year for femicides in Turkey. With 394 femicides and 258 suspicious deaths of women, we witnessed the highest number of femicides since we started keeping data. In 14 years, the only year in which femicides decreased was 2011, when the Istanbul Convention was signed. Since the discussions on the Istanbul Convention began, there has been an increase in femicides and suspicious deaths. The other main reasons for this increase are the lack of effective implementation of Protection Law No. 6284, misogynist and anti-child rhetorics, reactionary and bigoted groups having a say in power, and the inadequacy of women's policies.
The persistence of the policy of impunity is one of the main reasons for the increase in the number of femicides. This year, cases such as the release of the defendant in the case of Sude Naz Ak in Manisa, the release of the perpetrators of Dina in Karabük, Vesile Bingöl in Istanbul and Pınar Bulunmaz in Şanlıurfa, and the acquittal of Nevzat Bahtiyar, who hid Narin's lifeless body, have once again shown the inadequacy of the judicial system. Another reason is those in parliament who point to women as the cause of femicides, and say, “The women who are killed are as guilty as the men who kill them.”
The political power ignored the existence of women by organizing family workshops instead of policies to protect them. In 2024, 280 women were killed by the man they were married to, their father, son or a relative. While women are mostly murdered within the family and the data is so clear, instead of protecting women within the family, family-oriented policies are produced. The concept of family is being sanctified. When we look at our data this year, we see that femicides are not only targeting women, but also children. In 2024, 19 girls were murdered by their father and 9 of them were murdered together with their mothers.
The key to stopping femicides is Protection Law No. 6284. However, the authorities responsible for implementing the law are not fulfilling their duties. The deaths of women who applied to Prosecutors’ Office and requested protection have once again revealed the insufficiencies of the system. In 2024, 20 women had protection orders at the time of their murder. These women were killed in spite of protection orders. Those who do not enforce protection orders are complicit in these murders. It is possible to change this trend with our struggle. In the case of Serpil Erfındık, thanks to the women's struggle, the Constitutional Court ruled for the first time in Turkey to hold the state responsible for a femicide. The ministry that did not protect Hülya Şevvalcı was ordered to pay compensation. Just as we women got this decision taken, just as we stood by every woman in courthouses and squares, we are the ones who will make sure that the Protection Law No. 6284 is effectively implemented. That is why we have launched a 6284 mobilization. We will enforce 6284, we will stop femicides.
We started 2024 with local elections. During the election process, it was stated that shelters are vital for women. The obligation to open shelters according to the Municipal Law was emphasized. However, months after the elections, no municipality has attempted to increase the number of shelters. The political power even tried to block the municipalities' projects supporting childcare. They attempted to close down Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality's daycare centers in many districts. Childcare support empowers women and enables them to participate in employment. However, the aim is to imprison women at home.
There were also scandals in the health sector. The omission of statements about sexual orientation from the Hippocratic oath ceremony in Ordu and difficulties in accessing hormone medication created major obstacles to access to women's health. Instead of a rights-based health care system, a structure was created in which women had to demand even their basic needs. Insurance fraud in the ‘Yenidoğan’ scandal caused many babies to die in hospitals.
The ‘massacre law’ on stray animals enacted in 2024 once again revealed that no living creature has any value in this country. This law, which disregards the right to life of stray animals, has deeply wounded not only animal rights defenders but also the conscience of society.
In 2024, our struggle and solidarity continued to grow stronger. We reached out to many women and continued to be their voice, strengthening each other.
We won our long-standing surname struggle. In 2024, the Constitutional Court annulled Article 187 of the Turkish Civil Code, which obliged married women to take their husband’s surname. With this decision, women won the right to use their own surnames alone after marriage. However, new legislation will have to be enacted to prevent any problems that may arise in practice.
2024 Data Highlights
In 2024, the reason behind 233 femicides could not be determined
In 2024, 394 femicides were committed, and 259 women were found suspiciously dead. 111 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, 2 women were killed on economic pretexts, 2 women were killed on the pretext of hate and 27 women were killed under other pretexts. The reason behind 233 of the 394 femicides could not be determined.
Women were mostly killed by men within the family
Of the 394 women killed in 2024, 166 were killed by the man they were married to, 45 by the man they were with, 31 by their father, 30 by the man they used to be married to, 29 by an acquaintance, 25 by a relative, 23 by the man they used to be with, 22 by their son, 7 by their brother and 7 by a stranger. The relation of the perpetrator could not be determined for 9 women. This year, 280 women were killed by men within the family.
Women were mostly killed in their homes
226 of the women were killed at their homes, 76 in the middle of the street, 13 in a deserted place, 13 in a public space, 13 in a car, 10 at their workplace, 6 on a waterfront, 5 in a field, 4 in an hotel, 3 in an entertainment venue and 5 in other places. It could not be determined where 20 women were killed. 57% of the women killed this month were killed in their homes.
Women were mostly killed with firearms
222 of the women killed this year were killed with firearms, 113 with sharp objects, 33 by strangulation, 14 by being beaten to death, 3 by being burned to death, 1 by being pushed from a height and 1 with another weapon. The weapon which was used to kill 7 women could not be determined. 57% of the women killed this month were killed with firearms.
We conceptualize femicide as 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 actions against the perception of gender identity. This year, 72 women who were killed were under the age of 18.
In 2024, a total of 20 women had protection orders at the time of their murder. These protection orders, which are issued by the state and must be implemented, are a lifeline for women. However, 20 women were killed because their protection orders were not implemented. The cautionary decision status of 368 murdered women cannot be determined. There is a problem in women's accessibility to institutions where they can obtain a cautionary decision.
It is difficult to access information on the employment status of women who are killed. We believe that this important data should be taken into consideration by the members of the press. According to the Turkish Statistical Institute (TÜİK), the number of women who were not included in the labor force in the third quarter of the year (July-August-September) was 21 million 40 thousand. The number of women who were absent from the labor force due to their domestic labor was 7 million 5 thousand. 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 year, of the women killed, 71 of the women were employed, and 21 were unemployed.
According to the data we were able to access, 210 of the 394 women killed this year had children and 4 of them were pregnant. It could not be determined whether 143 women had children or not.
According to the available data, 197 of the women killed this year were married and 81 were single. The marital status of 116 women could not be determined.
Femicide data in 2024, by city:
Our Struggle Continued in Squares, Courthouses and Everywhere
In 2024, we continued our organized struggle for women all over Turkey.
On March 8th, we were in the squares to build free cities, streets and lives.
In Bağcılar, we were in the squares against abuse and for the children who have been abused there for years.
On May 1st, we were in the squares in Taksim and all over Turkey saying “We will not be the cheap labor for the boss, nor the slave of the family!”
Against the ‘massacre law’, we were at the Justice Rally in Yenikapı. We were in Kadıköy, Şişhane, and Maltepe.
We were in Hakkari and Van against the appointed trustees.
In the streets where Ece Ocakdan, Serpil Kartal, İkbal Uzuner, Ayşenur Halil and many other women were murdered, we said “We will stop femicides!”.
On November 25th, we were in many places in Turkey and all over the world.
2024 was the year of Young Feminists! Despite the highest rates of femicide in our history, increasing violence and oppression, the Young Feminists Federation, organized in provinces, shed light on the darkness. They organized seminars in many universities and came together with young women. They developed policies addressing the problems of young women and were present in the squares for murdered women all over the country, just like they were for Eylem Sevilen.
We met with women. In panels, universities, neighborhood community centers, press conferences, festivals, and parks, we came together with women to fight for our organized struggle and our rights.
In January, we organized the ‘Workshop on the Struggle for the Civil Code’.
We launched the mobilization for the Protection Law No. 6284.
This year, we participated in panels and seminars all over Turkey.
We stood by the women fighting for their rights and the families of the murdered women in courthouses all over Turkey.
Prominent Case Developments in 2024
In the case against Yunus Yıldırım, who stabbed Merve Veziroğlu in 58 places, the public prosecutor asked for up to 30 years in prison for ‘attempted intentional homicide against the spouse’ and ‘deprivation of liberty’.
In Konya, Tayfur Kılıç confessed to strangling his wife Bedriye Kılıç to death and throwing her off a cliff. The court sentenced Kılıç to aggravated life imprisonment without any reduction. Bedriye Kılıç’s body has still not been found.
In the lawsuit filed for compensation regarding the death of Hülya Şellavcı, who was murdered by the man she was in the process of divorce and against whom she had filed 4 criminal complaints and had a restraining order, the Ministry of Interior was guilty of failing to protect her right to life. The perpetrator was later sentenced to aggravated life imprisonment without any reduction for ‘premeditated murder of a woman and spouse’.
Ragıp Canan had attempted to kill Nurtaç in 2020. Nurtaç Canan wrote his name with her blood out of fear that the killer would not be found. Yet justice failed and the perpetrator was released soon after. The perpetrator continued to threaten Nurtaç. As a result of our struggle, Ragıp Canan was arrested for stalking.
In 2020, an investigation was opened into the death of Aleyna Çakır, who was murdered by Ümitcan Uygun. 4.5 years later, a lawsuit was filed against the perpetrator for ‘encouraging and reinforcing suicide’ and ‘persecution’ with a prison sentence of up to 18 years.
The verdict was announced in the case of H. K. G., who was forced to mary at a young age and was sexually abused for many years. The perpetrator Kadir İstekli was sentenced to 36 years in prison for ‘sexual abuse of 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’.
Harun Gül, who killed Serpil Kartal on the street in Arnavutköy because she wanted a divorce, was sentenced to aggravated life imprisonment without any reduction for ‘intentional killing of a wife’.
In Mardin 25-year-old Vatfa Ecevit was stabbed in 17 places after she was discharged from the hospital on the day she gave birth, by Mehmet Şiyar Ecevit. The perpetrator was sentenced to aggravated life imprisonment without any reduction for ‘intentional killing of a spouse’.
In the case of Şule Akdeniz, who was murdered in 2020 by Erkan Tartuk, the man she was married to, the perpetrator was sentenced to aggravated life imprisonment without any reduction for ‘intentional killing of a spouse’. The Court of Appeals overturned the verdict, arguing that the perpetrator, who used Şule’s lifestyle as an excuse, should be given reductions for good behavior and provocation.
In 2021, Şebnem Köker fell to her death from the hotel room where she was staying with Timuçin Bayhan. Although the necessary investigations were not carried out in Şebnem’s suspicious death, the defendant was acquitted. The Court of Appeals upheld the verdict, which was overturned by the Court of Cassation, citing suspicions. We will reveal the truth behind Şebnem’s death.
Nursena Kozan was murdered by Şafak Şahin, the man she had divorced. The perpetrator was sentenced to three aggravated life sentences without any reduction for ‘premeditated murder of a spouse and a woman’.
Dursun Acar, the arrested defendant in the case of 17-year-old Dina who was murdered in Karabük, was acquitted of ‘qualified intentional killing’ and ‘sexual abuse’.
Ezgi Zerkin was murdered in İzmir in İzmir by the man she was in the process of divorce. Although she was under protection and had repeatedly filed criminal complaints against the murderer, the authorities did not order electronic handcuffs. The lawsuit filed by Ezgi Zerkin's family against the Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Family and Social Services for failing to comply with Protection Law No. 6284 was finalized. The two ministries will pay a total of 400 thousand TL in compensation for their negligence in Ezgi’s death.
In December, there were 18 femicides and 24 suspicious deaths of women.
We would like to share with you the names of the women who were murdered in December, each of whom was a life:
What happened regarding women in December 2024?
In Afghanistan, the Taliban banned the installation of windows in women’s rooms under the pretext of 'fear of obscene acts'. They also ordered the existing windows to be closed.
FIFA 1st Category referee Gamze Durmuş Pakkan was removed from the FIFA list by the Central Referee Board (MHK) because of her pregnancy. While UEFA took the necessary initiatives to appeal the decision, it was announced that the MHK rejected the decision.
Gisele, who was sexually abused by many men for 10 years through the man she was married to, won her public case. In the case where 51 men, including Dominique Pelicot, were tried, the defendants were sentenced to decades in prison.
The Women’s Support Line was established in cooperation with the Manisa Yunusemre Municipality and We Will Stop Femicides Platform. We will continue to work with local governments to develop policies for women’s equality and freedom.
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, 25-year-old Gaye Akel was found dead in the morning in the hotel where she was staying with C. A., the man she was with.
In Ankara, 15-year-old Azra Nisa Arslan fell to her death from the terrace of a 7-story building.
In Sakarya, 17-year-old Melek Boğaz was found shot in the head in the house where she lived with her family.
In Adana, 23-year-old Günay Sena S. was found shot dead in the chest with a firearm belonging to İbrahim S., the man she was married to. It was revealed that Günay had gotten three restraining orders against the suspect and that he had recently been released from prison.
In Van, 25-year-old Nisan Uğur, mother of three, was found shot dead in her house with a firearm belonging to the man she was married to.
In İzmir, the lifeless body of 29-year-old Eda Kuş was brought to the police station by Erdinç Ballıkaya, the man she used to be with, who claimed that Eda had committed suicide. It was revealed that Eda had previously obtained a restraining order against him due to physical assault but the order was later lifted at her own request. The suspect was taken into custody.
The stories of the life struggles of the 18 women killed in December 2024
In Bursa, 46-year-old Selma Tercan was shot dead with a firearm by Yücel Tömlek, the man she was living with, at the bus stop where she was waiting to go to work. The perpetrator committed suicide with the same gun after shooting Selma 8 times.
In Giresun, 80-year-old Emine D. was killed by being hit in the head with a hard object by A. D., the man she was married to.
In Uşak, 33-year-old Rahime Ç., mother of three, was stabbed to death by Hüseyin Ç., the man she was married to. The perpetrator then committed suicide by jumping from the 5th floor of their house.
In Mersin, 50-year-old Leyla Çakmak was shot dead with a firearm by Zafer Çakmak, the man she was married to, in front of the apartment they lived in.
In Kırklareli, 37-year-old Songül Gönül, mother of two, was stabbed to death by Ümit D., the man she used to be married to.
In Bursa, Serpil Karan, mother of five, was shot dead with a firearm in a car in a deserted place by Fahri Karan, the man she was in the process of divorce. It was learned that Serpil had been living in a women's shelter for a while and that the perpetrator had called her to meet on the pretext of their wedding anniversary.
In Istanbul, Melike Alhan was stabbed to death by Mehmet Erdem Alhan, the man she was in the process of divorce. Melike Alhan’s son was also stabbed and wounded by the perpetrator.
In Osmaniye, Hayriye Kaya was strangled to death by Şahin K., the man she was married to. The perpetrator then went to the police station and surrendered.
In Sivas, 67-year-old Şehriban Kurt, mother of two, was strangled to death by her son under the pretext of debt. The perpetrator also shot and killed his twin brother with a firearm.
In Manisa, 36-year-old Mehtap Yarbeğ, mother of four, was shot dead with a firearm in front of the restaurant where she worked by M. Y., the man she was in the process of divorce. It was learned that Mehtap had a restraining order against the perpetrator.
In Samsun, 44-year-old business owner Arzu Açıkgöz, mother of two, was shot dead with firearm by Mert Okumuş, the man her daughter was with, on the pretext that she would not allow them to marry.
In Mersin, 30-year-old Ayşe Merve Sağ was shot dead with a firearm by Ertay Duru, the man she used to be with. The perpetrator committed suicide.
In Bursa, 42-year-old Seher Kındaç, mother of two, was first hit on the head with a rolling pin and then smothered with a kitchen cloth by Turgay Kındaç, the man she was married to. The perpetrator was arrested.
In Van, 28-year-old Fatma Çakırbeyli, mother of two, was tortured for hours and then her throat was slit by Reşat Çakırbeyli, the man she was married to. It was learned that Fatma had been subjected to violence by the perpetrator before and that the perpetrator said “I have a mental illness report, nothing will happen to me”.
In Diyarbakır, 50-year-old Yezda Akgül was shot dead with a firearm by her son Baver Yalçınkaya. The perpetrator was detained.
In Sakarya, 31-year-old Simge Kodalak was killed and her body was left by a lake by İskender Kodalak, the man she was married to. The perpetrator was detained.
In Kayseri, it was revealed that R. G., who had allegedly committed suicide, was murdered by her brother-in-law M. G. The perpetrator was arrested and sent to prison.
*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”