In April 2026, 26 women were killed by men, and 23 women were found suspiciously dead.

2026 April Report*

26 Femicides and 23 Suspicious Deaths of Women in April

The fight to stop femicides in Turkey has been going on for 16 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.

We would like to share the names of the women, each of whom was a life:

Femicide data in the month of April, by city:

Data Highlights:

The reason behind 20 femicides could not be determined

This month, 26 femicides were committed, and 23 women were found suspiciously dead. 4 women were killed on economic pretexts, 1 on the pretext of refusing to reconcile and 1 on the pretext of not getting an abortion. The reason behind 20 of the 26 femicides could not be determined.

The inability to determine the excuse behind the murder of 20 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.

Women were most often killed by the man they were married to.

Of the 26 women killed in April, 10 were killed by the man they were married to, 2 by the man they used to be married to, 2 by the man they were with, 1 by her father, 1 by a relative, 1 by her son and 1 by an acquaintance. The relation of the perpetrator could not be determined for 6 women. This month, 38% of the women who were killed were killed by the man they were married to.

Women were most often killed in their homes

18 of the women were killed at their homes, 2 in the middle of the street, 1 in a hotel, 1 in a car, 1 on a waterfront and 1 in a field. It could not be determined where 2 women were killed. 69% of the women killed this month were killed in their homes.

Women were most often killed with a firearm

16 of the women killed this month were killed with firearms, 7 with sharp objects, 2 by strangulation and 1 by being beaten to death. 62% of the women killed this month were killed with firearms.

On 1st of May, We were in the Squares.

We were in the squares for our labour, our lives, our rights, and our freedom. Once again, we raised our voices to declare that we refuse to accept the invisible labour of women, precarious work, low wages, poverty, violence, and inequality.

We came together against the exploitation, oppression, and precariousness imposed on us at home, at work, at school, on the streets, and in every aspect of life. Because we know: neither women's labour nor their lives can be devalued.

This 1st of May, we carried not only our own demands but also the voices of all workers whose labour is exploited, who are not being paid what they deserve, and whose lives have been marked with insecurity. The miners’ resistance showed us once again that a worker's sweat cannot be a subject of negotiation. The workers of Doruk Mining walked from Eskişehir to Ankara to demand their wages which haven't been paid for months, carrying not only their own demands but the voices of all workers whose labour is being exploited. This resistance demonstrated the power of organized struggle against the arbitrariness of bosses, against the system that condemns workers to courtrooms, and against those who remain silent. Authority lies not on paper, but in the will of the workers and the power of solidarity.

We were in the squares with that same will on 1st of May. The struggle for an equal, free, and secure life is shared by women, workers, youth, retirees, and the oppressed. We can only defend our rights and our lives through solidarity, by standing side by side, and through our organized struggle.

The miners won because they resisted.

We will win too, because we will not be silenced, we will not give up, and we are organized. For our labour, our rights, our lives and our future; long live 1st of May!

Long live women's solidarity, long live our organized struggle!

Where is Gülistan Doku after six years?

Six years have passed since Gülistan Doku went missing. Only now are steps being taken in the case based on suspicions of ‘murder’ and ‘obstruction of justice.’ Questions that have been asked for years, instances of neglect that have been pointed out for years, and issues left in the dark for years are only now the subject of an investigation.

We do not interpret this delay as ‘justice taking its course.’ On the contrary, we ask: Why wasn’t this investigation conducted for years? Why wasn’t evidence collected in a timely manner? Why weren’t surveillance recordings preserved? Why weren’t the suspects effectively investigated from the very beginning? While women and their families have been seeking justice for years, why have the authorities remained silent?

Our data shows that suspicious deaths of women from past years are rarely solved. This is no coincidence; in every case where an effective investigation is not conducted, the darkness thickens, evidence disappears, perpetrators are protected, and impunity deepens. When women are killed or go missing, the truth and justice are deliberately delayed unless a comprehensive, independent, and effective investigation is conducted from the very first moment.

Suspicious deaths of women do not remain in the dark; they are left in the dark. That is precisely why we keep asking: What happened to Gülistan? Who tampered with the evidence? Who failed to do their duty? Who was protected? Women’s lives cannot be left to languish on file shelves. We demand justice for Gülistan Doku. All suspicious deaths of women must be brought to light through effective investigations.

Schools cannot be places of death, fear, and violence for children.

The armed attacks that took place in Şanlıurfa and Kahramanmaraş in April once again demonstrated how the safety of children and education workers is being neglected. We cannot simply dismiss these attacks as ‘isolated incidents’. We must advocate for a life where children are not killed on their way to school, teachers are not targeted while working, and violence is not normalized. Because every instance of neglect, every lack of oversight, and every risk dismissed with a “we’ll deal with it later” attitude threatens children’s right to life.

The necessary measures are clear: Schools must establish a comprehensive system that goes beyond mere security at the entrance: one that detects violence early, strengthens guidance and psychosocial support mechanisms, monitors risky situations, prevents access to weapons, and establishes effective coordination between schools, families, and public institutions. Children’s safety cannot be left to disciplinary measures, punitive policies, or token inspections.

Şanlıurfa and Kahramanmaraş have shown us once again: no education policy that fails to protect children’s right to life is acceptable. Schools must be spaces where children exist not in fear, but with a sense of equality and security. We demand effective measures against violence, neglect, and lack of oversight in schools.

Case Developments of April

It came to light in 2024 that Güneş Yıldıztan was killed and buried by Nihat Yıldıztan, the man she used to be married to, along with his relatives, in 2017 under the pretext of honour. It was revealed that Güneş had filed a complaint against the perpetrator before her murder and had moved into a shelter. DNA tests revealed that three of Güneş’s four children were not fathered by Nihat Yıldıztan, but by Saim Yıldıztan, who assisted in the murder. The first hearing in the murder case took place this month. The prosecution sought an aggravated life sentence for the defendants on charges of ‘premeditated murder motivated by honour’, ‘incitement’, and ‘aiding and abetting’.

The hearing of Meliha Keskin, who was murdered in front of the Faculty of Literature at Erciyes University by Ferhat Karakaya, the man she used to be married to, was held. The perpetrator was sentenced to aggravated life imprisonment without any reduction.

As the We Will Stop Femicides Platform, we have brought the unlawful termination of the Istanbul Convention before the European Court of Human Rights, citing violations of the right to an effective remedy, the right to non-discrimination, the right to a fair trial, the violation of the principle of limiting restrictions, and the principles of a democratic society and legal certainty.

What happened regarding women in April?

Female students cannot be left to face sexual violence, neglect, and a lack of oversight in dormitories. Incidents of men entering women’s dormitories without permission at ITU Ayazağa and in İzmir, and committing acts of sexual violence against students, as well as the death of Merve Kılıç, who died after falling from the 3rd floor at the KYK dormitory in Balıkesir, demonstrate a systematic violation of the right to safe housing. Dormitories should not be spaces of fear and silencing for women; they must be safe, equal, and free living spaces. Effective investigations must be conducted against those responsible. Female students are not alone.

19-year-old A. I. was subjected to pressure and violence from her family because she wanted to continue her education and make decisions about her own life. While staying at her maternal uncle’s house, she was beaten and forcibly taken away by her father and paternal uncle, who was brought into the house by her mother. A. I.’s whereabouts, health condition, and safety must be disclosed immediately, and an effective investigation must be conducted into the perpetrators of the violence.

Under the Taliban regime in Afghanistan, which seeks to erase women from public spaces, education, sports, and every aspect of life, the decision to allow Afghan women football players in exile to compete in official international matches is not merely a development in sports. This decision is a powerful protest against the restrictions imposed on women’s bodies, lives, and dreams.

In Belarus, legal measures targeting women’s rights activists, the LGBTQI+ community, and independent civil society have drawn international condemnation. The narrowing of women’s spaces for organization, expression, and advocacy demonstrates that the feminist struggle is being suppressed not only in the streets but also in the realms of law and civil society.

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 Antalya, 23-year-old P. C. was found dead after falling from a height.

In Batman, 22-year-old Nalin Yavuz was found shot at her home.

In Mersin, 17-year-old Fatma H. was shot with her father’s licensed handgun. The incident was claimed to be an ‘accident’.

In Manisa, 65-year-old Mürşide B. was found dead under suspicious circumstances, with bruises on her face and a scarf wrapped around her neck.

The stories of the life struggles of the 26 women killed in April

In Çanakkale, 34-year-old Selver S., mother of two, was shot and killed with a firearm by Şefik S., the man she was married to.

In Ankara, 19-year-old Şahsenem Zoroğlu was shot and killed with a firearm by 28-year-old Hüseyin Duran, the man she was with. After the incident, the perpetrator committed suicide with the same weapon.

In Istanbul, 28-year-old Yonca Kölge, mother of three, was stabbed to death in a hotel room by Salih B., the man she used to be married to. It was learned that the perpetrator had prior criminal records for ‘intentional injury’ and ‘theft’, and had been released from prison on leave.

In Ankara, 46-year-old Deniz Büyükköprü and her daughter 16-year-old Irmak Nehir Büyükköprü were shot and killed with a firearm by Remzi Büyükköprü, the man Deniz was married to. The perpetrator also seriously injured their other daughter, S. B. The perpetrator committed suicide after the incident.

In Adana, the body of 27-year-old Bahar Aksüt was found in a pond. The investigation revealed that Bahar Aksüt was seven months pregnant and had been stabbed to death by Mustafa Arıkan, the man she was with. The perpetrator and two people who assisted the murder were arrested.

In Bursa, 65-year-old Fatma Ekinci was killed with a sharp object by Erdi B., the man her daughter was with. The perpetrator, who also stole Fatma’s jewelry, was arrested.

In Istanbul, 39-year-old Türkan Bildik and her 19-year-old daughter Ceylinnaz Şevgin were shot and killed with a firearm by Ercan Şevgin , the man Türkan used to be married to. The perpetrator was caught.

In Izmir, 34-year-old Nazlı Yılmaz was shot and killed with a firearm inside a vehicle by Osman K. The perpetrator attempted suicide after the incident.

In Kahramanmaraş, 32-year-old Fatma Kurt was shot and killed with a firearm by Mevlüt Kurt, the man she was married to, on the pretext that she had not cooked food.

In Erzurum, 31-year-old Elif K., mother of three, was stabbed to death by İ. K., the man she was married to. The perpetrator was arrested.

In Diyarbakır, 58-year-old Kerima Ateş was shot and killed with a firearm by Zübeyir Ateş, the man she was married to. The perpetrator also injured their daughter H. A. and was taken into custody.

In Istanbul, 59-year-old Ruhan Çalu was stabbed to death by Mert Deniz G. The perpetrator was arrested.

In Gaziantep, 45-year-old Hatice Kübra Duman, mother of one, was stabbed to death by Cumali Ökkeş. The perpetrator attempted suicide after the incident.

In Hatay, 54-year-old Zekiye Zont was strangled to death by her relatives Ali Z. and Kenan Z. The perpetrators were arrested.

In Istanbul, 66-year-old Medine Kaya was shot and killed with a firearm by Cemal Kaya, the man she was married to. The perpetrator was arrested.

In Samsun, 59-year-old Ayşe Karademir was shot and killed with a firearm by her son, Muhammet Karademir. The perpetrator committed suicide after the incident.

In Izmir, 39-year-old Nurcan Çubuk, mother of two, was shot in the throat and killed with a firearm by Ç. Ç., the man she was married to.

In Afyon, it was revealed that 26-year-old Alev Karagöz, who died last year under suspicious circumstances and initially claimed to have committed suicide, was shot and killed with a firearm by the man she used to be married to.

In Mersin, Cangül Ç., mother of two, was stabbed and beaten to death by E. Ç., the man she was married to. The perpetrator was arrested on charges of ‘aggravated intentional killing of a spouse with monstrous intent’ and ‘aggravated sexual assault against a spouse’.

In Çanakkale, 62-year-old Serpil Özlem Argüden was shot and killed with a shotgun by Ferruh Argüden, the man she was married to. After the incident, the perpetrator committed suicide with the same weapon.

In Muğla, 25-year-old Serap Yılmaz and 32-year-old Hatice Yeysikan were shot and killed with a firearm in front of a hotel by Ecevit C.

In Antalya, Havva Yıldırım, mother of two, was found in 2011 strangled with a rope and with her mouth taped shut. After the investigation was reopened, the perpetrator S. K. was arrested.

In Ardahan, 60-year-old Müslümat Özer was beaten to death in the barn of her home by G. S., the man her daughter was married to. The perpetrator, who fled after the incident, was caught in Erzurum.

*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 analyse, 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”