2025 September Report* 

20 Femicides and 22 Suspicious Deaths of Women in September 

The fight to stop femicides in Turkey has been going on for 15 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 11 femicides could not be determined 

This month, 20 femicides were committed, and 22 women were found suspiciously dead. 4 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 economic pretexts, and 4 women on ohter pretexts. The reason behind 11 of the 20 femicides could not be determined. The inability to determine the excuse behind the murder of 11 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. 

By whom were the women killed? 

Of the 20 women killed in September, 5 were killed by the man they were married to, 3 by the man they used to be with, 3 by their son, 3 by an acquaintance, 2 by the man they used to be married to, 2 by a relative, 1 by her brother, and 1 by the man she was with. This month, 65% of the women who were killed were killed by a male relative. 

Women were mostly killed in their homes 

12 of the women were killed at their homes, 5 in the middle of the street, 2 at their workplace, and 1 in a car. 60% of the women killed this month were killed in their homes. 

Women were mostly killed with firearms 

11 of the women killed this month were killed with firearms, 5 with sharp objects, 2 by strangulation and 2 by being beaten to death. 55% of the women killed this month were killed with firearms. 

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: 

As We Will Stop Femicide Platform, our data shows that there has been a significant increase in suspicious deaths of women in recent months. At least 22 suspicious deaths were recorded in September. These deaths involve falling from a heigh, signs of beating or gunshot wounds; the truth behind these suspicious deaths of women are left unrevealed. 

Our call is clear! For every suspicious death, a comprehensive investigation must be conducted without delay, ensuring the integrity of evidence. Every step, from crime scene investigation to forensic medicine, from witness statements to camera footage, must be carried out thoroughly and transparently, and regular information must be provided to the public. This year's increase in suspicious deaths reinforces the perception of impunity, and we will not stand by and watch this happen. 

To date, we have stood by women and their relatives in many cases, contributing to the disclosure of points that were intended to be left in the dark. We continue with the same determination, fighting for the clarification of suspicious deaths. 

Suspicious deaths of women must be investigated, everyone involved in the death and those who neglected their duties during this process must be brought to justice. Justice must be served for the right to life. 

Women face systematic risks in public spaces, in their homes, and in their schools. Three incidents this month demonstrate this: In Ankara, a courier attempted to enter the home of a female customer at night which he thought was home alone, under the pretext of making a delivery. The footage was released, and action was taken following the complaint. 

In Istanbul, at the KYK Cevizlibağ Atatürk Girls' Dormitory, serious attacks on students’ safety and privacy occurred, revealing how young women’s right to housing is not being protected. 

At Bahçelievler Halil Bekmezci Anatolian High School, students collectively objected to a teacher facing sexual harassment and violence allegations being reinstated to classes, saying, “We do not want harassers in our school!”. They loudly voiced their demands for an educational environment free from discrimination and violence. 

Our message is clear! Women and girls deserve spaces that are equal, free, and safe from violence. We don’t buy into the ‘accidental incident’ tale. Every incident must be investigated immediately and transparently, with regular updates to the public. 

Women are not alone! From the thresholds of our homes to the corridors of our dorms, from schoolyards to campus gates, we will not give up our right to live equally and freely. We are raising our voices, growing through solidarity, and we are here to stay! 

Sexual Violence Increases, Impunity Protects Perpetrators 

In Bursa, four men who abused 16-year-old E. T. were each sentenced to 42 years in prison for ‘sexual abuse of a child’ and ‘deprivation of liberty’. Upon appeal, the Regional Court of Appeals reviewed the case and reduced the sentence to 22 years with a ‘good behavior discount’. 

In Kayseri, O. P., who sexually abused the daughter of the woman he was with, was sentenced to 18 years in prison for the crime of ‘sexual abuse of a child’. 

Case Developments of September 

Two suspects have been arrested for the murder of Emine Çöp and her cousin Tuğçe Semiz, who were shot dead at a red light in Gebze district of Kocaeli 3.5 years ago. 

In Mersin, Bekir Aktekin, who brutally murdered Seher Aktekin, the woman he was married to, with a shotgun just six days after being released from prison, was sentenced to aggravated life imprisonment. 

In Manisa’s Alaşehir district, Pelin Karaca had gone missing on September 17 last year, and was later found to have been murdered. Ali Uysal was sentenced to aggravated life imprisonment by the Alaşehir High Criminal Court for her death. 

In Mersin, Naim Şen shot and killed Songül Perçem, the woman she was with, and later attempted suicide. He was released from the hospital and arrested. 

What happened regarding women in September? 

In September, the political power continued to use censorship and repression to impose its own lifestyle, and silence women, LGBTIQ, artists and dissidents. 

Members of the band Manifest were placed under judicial control and banned from leaving the country on charges of ‘exhibitionism’ and ‘indecent behavior’ in relation to their concert performance. 

Access to Mabel Matiz’s song ‘Perperişan’ was first blocked online on charges of ‘obscenity’, and then, as part of the investigation that followed, Mabel Matiz was placed under judicial control and banned from leaving the country. 

Enes Akgündüz and Boğaz Soydemir were arrested on charges of ‘inciting public hatred and hostility, and insult’ in relation to a joke made on their ‘Soğuk Savaş’ YouTube channel. 

Merve Göntem, the screenwriter of the series Kızılcık Şerbeti, was detained and later released on judicial control on charges of ‘encouraging prostitution’ in relation to statements she made in an interview. 

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 Malatya, 25-year-old Emine Kalay died in the hospital after being admitted with a knife wound. Yusuf Kolay, the man she was married to, claimed that she fell onto a knife in the kitchen. He was taken into custody. 

In Istanbul, 20-year-old Jawhara Aboucheikh was found dead in a residence. A. A., the man she was with, told security guards that she was feeling unwell, and then fled the scene. He was later caught and arrested in Bursa. 

In Erzurum, 65-year-old Hesna Turgay went to the hospital complaining of chest pain. Tests revealed that she had a broken rib and fluid in her lungs. She died 5 days later. 

In Tekirdağ, 29-year-old Gülşah Güngör was found dead with gunshot wounds at the home of Sergeant Y. A. It was learned that Y. A. claimed to he was in the bathroom when the incident occurred and was released on judicial control. 

In Diyarbakır, 18-year-old Töre Kurt was found dead with gunshot wounds in the bathroom of her home. 

In Kastamonu, 20-year-old Yeganeh Gholami fell to her death from the 5th floor window of a hotel. 

In Istanbul, 39-year-old Elif Can Göktürk was found dead in a hotel room where she was staying with Erkut Göktürk, the man she was married to. The suspect was arrested. 

The stories of the life struggles of the 20 women killed in September 

In Ankara, 42-year-old Müesser Ünal was shot to death with a shotgun by Hüseyin Ünal, the man she had been in the process of divorce for two years. It was learned that Müesser had gotten a restraining order against the perpetrator. After the incident, the perpetrator turned himself in by calling the police and saying, “I shot my wife, come and arrest me”. 

In Afyonkarahisar, 26-year-old Kübra Karadeniz, her mother 62-year-old Elvida Karadeniz, and her sister 31-year-old Ayşegül Çankaya were shot dead with a firearm by Muharrem Türkan, the man Kübra used to be married to, on the day the divorce decree was issued. He also injured the man Ayşegül was married to with the butt of the gun. Kübra and Elvida died in the hospital on the same day, while Ayşegül died 11 days later. It was learned that the perpetrator fired 22 shots. 

In Ankara, 46-year-old engineer Başak Gürkan Arslan, mother of one, was stabbed to death in front of her child by Kudret Arslan, the father of the man she was in the process of divorce. The perpetrator stated that he killed her over property division. 

In Ankara, 60-year-old Zeynep Murat was shot dead with a rifle by Ahmet Murat, the man she was married to. The perpetrator committed suicide after the incident. 

In İzmir, 33-year-old restaurant chef Selin Angun was shot dead with a firearm at her workplace by Ramazan Ümit Görgülü, the man she used to be with. The perpetrator, who also injured two other people, committed suicide after the incident. 

In Kocaeli, 50-year-old Dursune Bilgili, and 5-year-old Havva Nur Anzerli were stabbed to death by 17-year-old M. İ. G., Dursune’s son and Havva’s brother. The perpetrator had 23 prior criminal records. 

In Antalya, 30-year-old Hanım Biçer was strangled to death by Hızır Çelik, the man she used to be married to. After the incident, the perpetrator called her family and said, “I killed your daughter”. The perpetrator was arrested. 

In Kocaeli, 35-year-old İpek Genç was shot dead with a firearm by Erhan Derse, the man she was with, under the pretext that she wanted to end the relationship. The perpetrator also killed İpek’s brother and then committed suicide. 

In Denizli, 60-year-old bedridden Hafize Gönül G. was beaten to death by her son Mehmet G. 

In Denizli, 93-year-old Hanım Ayşe Kızılhan was beaten to death and hit on the head with a gas cylinder by her grandson Osman Kızılhan. The perpetrator tried to cover up the incident, initially claiming that he found her ‘unconscious’. However, as the investigation revealed his contradictory statements, he confessed to the murder and was arrested. 

In Osmaniye, 33-year-old Melek Kişen was shot dead with a firearm at her workplace by Abdullah Yıldırım, the man she used to be with and who was on leave from prison. The perpetrator committed suicide after the incident. 

In İstanbul, Kholımakhon Odılovna Akhmadova, also known as Züleyha E., was stabbed in the throat and killed by Akmaljon Rustamovıch S. 

In Muğla, 61-year-old Durgül Sivrikaya was shot in the head with a hunting rifle and killed her 22-year-old son Soner Sivrikaya, under the pretext that she did not want him to go hunting. 

In Samsun, 41-year-old Fatma Günegül, mother of four, was first beaten and then strangled to death by Yücel Günegül, the man she was married to. It was learned that Fatma had previously gotten a restraining order against him and had moved into a women’s shelter. Before, the perpetrator had also stabbed her daughter and been jailed, but was released in July. 

In Zonguldak, 24-year-old Dilara Yıldırım was stabbed to death in her home by her neighbor Serdar S., under the pretext that she was listening to loud music. 

In Gaziantep, 24-year-old İpek Kurt, mother of three, was shot dead with a shotgun by Sait Kurt, the man she was in the process of divorce. 

In Kocaeli, 26-year-old Fadik Polat was shot dead with a firearm by Ramazan Polat, the man she was married to. 

*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”