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We Will Stop Femicides Platform 2022 Annual Report [1]

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Date: 2023-05 

We Will Stop Femicides Platform 2022 Annual Report

2022 Annual Report*

As the We Will Stop Femicides Platform, we have been keeping track of femicide data in Turkey since 2010. In the past 12 years, the only year in which femicides decreased was 2011, the year Istanbul Convention was signed. Since the discussions around withdrawing from the Istanbul Convention started, there has been an increase in femicides and suspicious deaths of women. In 2022, another year we spent without the Istanbul Convention, there was a significant increase in femicides and suspicious deaths of women. While it is clear that the effective implementation of the Istanbul Convention saves women’s lives, the political power withdrew from the İstanbul Convention.

This misogynistic mentality that withdrew from the Istanbul Convention is the same mentality that filed a closure case against our We Will Stop Femicides Platform Association. With our struggle, we have been the voice of women in this country for years. While the political power did not even acknowledge the concept of femicide, we fought to stop femicides and shed light on the suspicious deaths of women. We stand firm and strong against the unlawful withdrawal from the Istanbul Convention, the unlawful lawsuit opened against our Association and the unlawful decision of the Council of State regarding the Istanbul Convention. We, women, draw our strength from each other; we are stronger than any structure standing against us! All year long, we have continued our struggle and fought in courthouses and squares and will continue to do so.

In the last month of the year, it was revealed that Yusuf Ziya Gümüşel, the founder of the Hiranur Foundation affiliated with the İsmailağa sect and who had called for the withdrawal from the Istanbul Convention, had married off his daughter H. K. G. at the age of 6, to Kadir İstekli, one of his followers. H. K. G. was sexually assaulted for years. She learned from a radio program that what she had experienced was sexual assault and started to fight for her rights despite all the obstacles. This shows how vital women’s struggle is. But what did those, who are supposed to prevent child abuse, do? Derya Yanık, the Minister of Family and Social Services, tried to cover up their negligence and failure to fulfil their responsibilities by claiming that child abuse and violence against women is a “supra-political” issue. The Constitutional Court unanimously rejected an application for the annulment of the law requiring concrete evidence in cases of child abuse. The authorities do not implement the Lanzarote Convention, to which Turkey is a party, and children are left alone by the state at risk of sexual abuse.

The AKP government presented a constitutional amendment proposal to the parliament under the pretext of “protecting the family“, targeting LGBTIQ+ by calling them “perverts”. This proposed amendment states that marriage can only be formed between men and women. Throughout the year, we saw the political power condoning attacks on LGBTIQ+ and their rights in many ways, such as anti-LGBTIQ+ rallies in Istanbul, Izmir and various other cities and hate murders against trans women. A government that lags behind society, ignores those who suffer inequalities and has lost its legitimacy cannot make a constitution. We will make an egalitarian, libertarian and democratic constitution with the participation of all segments of society.

In 2022, the most important agenda of Turkey was the economic crisis. Especially in the first quarter of the year, workers’ resistance took place all over the country and continues to take place. People cannot make ends meet due to successive hikes, especially on basic needs and the increase in the exchange rate. We see that the increases in the minimum wage have no value in the face of the rise in prices. Yet, when the hunger limit is 7,785 TL, and the poverty line is 25,365 TL, the government boasts of a minimum wage of 8,506 TL. In addition to poverty, women are also struggling with violence. We accept neither the government burdening the economic crisis on our backs nor the lack of policies to prevent male violence. In response to all this, we organized our “Dance Protest Against the Economic Crisis” in Kadıköy, Istanbul and Izmir in February. In Istanbul, we were prevented by the police from entering the square on the pretext that our empty pots, which have become a symbol of the economic crisis, were “injurious tools”. We will not stop fighting until we end all inequalities.

This year we faced the government’s oppression in every field. Festivals were banned, music tried to be banned over women’s bodies and clothing, a censorship law was passed under the name of “disinformation law”, and our constitutional rights, such as freedom of assembly and freedom of expression, tried to be prevented. It has also been a year of struggle for us in the courthouses, squares, and streets. Despite all these pressures, we will not back down from our fight. We will stop femicides!

We share the important results that emerged from the data we compiled this year:

In 2022, 23 women were murdered despite the fact that they had injunctions against the perpetrator. Of the women who had an injunction at the time of their murder, 50% were killed by the man they were in the process of divorce. Women get subjected to violence because they want to make decisions about their lives. To avoid being subjected to violence or killed, women, knowing their rights, apply for protection under protection law 6284. However, when they contact the authorities, they are not protected. The state did not protect Beyza Doğan even though she filed 35 complaints against the perpetrator. Gülbahar Kaya, who couldn’t go to give a signature for a new restraining order due to COVID, was killed the day her restraining order expired. Hülya Şellavcı had demanded ‘forced imprisonment’ against her perpetrator, who had violated his restraining order, but the approval came after Hülya was murdered. The negligence of those who fail to take the necessary action against perpetrators who violate restraining orders and those who regard these orders as mere pieces of paper cost women their lives throughout the year. The policies of impunity have changed dimensions and taken on a new form in which perpetrators were not caught. Impunity paves the way for femicides, almost patting the killers on the back. So much so that the state who didn’t protect Ezgi Zerkin, who was murdered despite her repeated complaints and restraining order, still has not found her killer. As We Will Stop Femicides Platform Women’s Assemblies, we hung banners all over the country searching for Ezgi’s murderer. Despite those who make statements of ‘zero tolerance for violence against women’ but act otherwise, we will implement the protection law 6284 fully and effectively and live without violence.

In 34 incidents this year, the perpetrator also killed the relatives of the woman he was targeting and, in 24 incidents, injured the relatives. While women are being killed, their relatives who want to prevent the perpetrator are also targeted. We will continue fighting against the authorities who encourage the perpetrators and do not protect women.

According to our data, in 14% of femicides this year, the perpetrator had a criminal record. This rate was 9% last year. It is clear that the government’s promise of ‘zero tolerance for violence against women’ is nothing but an empty promise. According to our data, 60% of the perpetrators with criminal records used firearms to kill women this year. The data clearly shows the existence of sexist attitudes in the judicial system and the disregard for women’s rights and safety. People with criminal records, those who have been released from prison on leave, and ex-convicts can legally access firearms. The facilitation of individual armament through laws and regulations paves the way for femicides. Lawmakers who are supposed to protect women support the arming of perpetrators instead.

Femicide data by city in 2022:

We would like to share the names of the women who were murdered in December, each of whom was a life:

Of the 22 women killed in December, 6 were killed by the man they were married to, 4 by the man they were with, 2 by the man they used to be married to, 2 by the man they used to be with, 3 by their father, 1 by her son, 1 by a relative and 1 by her brother. The relation of the perpetrator could not be determined for 2 of women.

14 of the women were killed at their homes, 4 in the middle of the street, 1 at her workplace, 1 in a field, 1 in a ceremony hall and 1 in a restaurant. 63% of the women killed this month were killed in their homes.

12 of the women killed this month were killed with firearms, 6 with sharp objects, 2 by strangulation, 1 by being beaten to death and 1 by being crushed to death by a car.

By whom were the women killed in 2022?

Of the 334 women killed in 2022, 154 were killed by the man they were married to, 35 by the man they were with, 27 by the man they used to be with, 26 by a relative, 19 by the man they used to be married to, 19 by an acquaintance, 17 by their father, 10 by their son, 6 by their brother, 4 by a stranger, 1 by a man whom was stalking her, 1 by a patient, 1 by her employer and 1 by her step-father. The relation of the perpetrator could not be determined for 13 of women.

In 2022, women were mostly killed in their homes

209 of the women were killed at their homes, 46 in the middle of the street, 16 at their workplace, 10 in a car, 10 in a field, 8 in a public space, 6 in a deserted place, 4 in an hotel, 4 on a waterfront, 2 next to a road, 1 near a wind turbine, 1 in front of an apartment, 1 in a café and 1 in an entertainment venue. It could not be determined where 15 women were killed. 63% of the women killed this year were killed in their homes.

In 2022, women were mostly killed with firearms

182 of the women killed this year were killed with firearms, 90 with sharp objects, 26 by strangulation, 18 by being beaten to death, 5 by being pushed from a height, 2 by using chemical substances, 2 by being burned to death, 1 by being crushed to death by a car and 1 by being killed in a deliberate ‘accident’. The weapon which was used to kill 7 women could not be determined.

The employment status of women still cannot be determined

It is very difficult to determine the employment status of women. We believe that this important data should be taken into consideration by the members of the press. 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, 58 of the women were employed, and 14 were unemployed. The employment status of 262 of the women is unknown.

Law No. 6284 and Its Results

Law No. 6284 regulates many measures, including restraining orders and protection measures. It provides women with many rights, from economic empowerment to changing their identity information. It came into force after years of struggle by women’s organizations. If Law No. 6284 is implemented effectively, it protects women. The enactment of Law No. 6284, which was introduced to protect women and prevent violence, was only possible after the Istanbul Convention was signed.

Timuçin Bayhan, who was on trial for life imprisonment in the case of Şebnem Köker’s suspicious fall from the third floor of a hotel, was acquitted.

The Constitutional Court ruled for the prosecution of public officials who were negligent in the murder of Serpil Erfındık by Vedat Atik, the man she used to be married to, on the grounds that adequate preventive and protective measures were not taken. With this precedent-setting decision, the Constitutional Court, for the first time, held the state responsible for a femicide.

The perpetrator who murdered Ayşe Tuba Arslan, despite her complaining 23 times, had his sentence reduced to 24 years due to ‘unjust provocation’ after his appeal. However, after the Supreme Court’s reversal decision, a new trial was held, and he was given an aggravated life sentence.

Onur Gencer, who killed Deniz Poyraz in an armed attack on HDP (Peoples’ Democratic Party) Izmir Office, was sentenced to aggravated life imprisonment for ‘deliberate murder with design’.

In the case of Aylin Sözer, who was murdered by a man she knew, the perpetrator was sentenced to aggravated life imprisonment without any discount. He was also sentenced to imprisonment for plunder and property damage.

It is not known whether 293 of the women killed in 2022 had a protection order. It is known that out of the 334 women, at least 23 had a restraining or protection order, 25 had a police or prosecutor’s office complaint, and 48 were in the process of divorce.

All these examples show how vital the full and effective implementation of the Istanbul Convention and Protection Law No. 6824 is for women. For the effective protection of women, injunctions must be implemented, the process must be followed, all units of the state must protect women’s rights, and public officials who fail to fulfil their duties must not go unpunished.

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 Siirt, 21-year-old Reyhan Subaşı died in a fire in her workplace. M. İ., F. K. and Ş. K. were detained on charges of “causing the death of a person due to negligence” and “deprivation of liberty”.

In Istanbul, a woman’s body was found in a car after it was hit by a truck.

In Ağrı, 40-year-old Güneş Bacı was found dead under suspicious circumstances. It was learned that Güneş had been systematically subjected to violence by the man she was married to and had been subjected to violence on the day of her death.

In Istanbul, 19-year-old Duygu Unutmaz was found dead together with Muhammet Yusug Tekin, the man she was with. It was learned that Muhammet Yusug Tekin had a gun with him the night he met Duygu.

In Çorum, 29-year-old Mumine Basim M. died suspiciously after being electrocuted by an electric stove. Her body was found at her house next to her 2 children. S. A. M., the man she was married to, was arrested after he started acting suspiciously and did not attend her funeral.

In Istanbul, Meral C. died suspiciously after falling from the balcony of her house. It was alleged that she had an argument with the man she was married to just before the incident.

In Denizli, 15-year-old Gökçe Ergen was found dead under a viaduct.

In Antalya, a body of a woman aged 30-35 was found in a vacant field.

In Iğdır, 22-year-old Sabina Sadıkova, mother of 1, died after falling from the fourth floor of her apartment. People in the neighbourhood reported hearing shouting coming from the house just before the incident.

The truth behind the suspicious death of 245 women in 2022 should be revealed as soon as possible. What needs to be done is clear; Protection Law No. 6284 and the Istanbul Convention should be implemented effectively and holistically by all institutions and organizations. Investigations into the suspicious deaths of women should be carefully examined and concluded quickly.

In 2022, we overcame a lot, we continued our struggle in every field.

Long Live Women!

We were in the Squares All Over the Country

Our demonstrations continued in Istanbul and many other cities. But so did the government’s bans. With the decision of the district governor, our protests tried to be unlawfully prevented, and our pots and pans were considered injurious tools. Despite all this, we continued to be in the squares throughout the year. As the Women’s and LGBTIQ+ Assemblies, we will continue to explain egalitarian feminism and fight for all those who are subjected to inequality.

We were at the Courthouses

This year, we were at the courthouses again for all the cases we followed. We followed at least 167 court cases this year, along with the families of the women who have been murdered and women who have been subjected to violence. In addition, we were at the Çağlayan Courthouse this year for the unlawful lawsuit filed against us. The families and the women with whom we have been fighting together for years in courthouses were there for us this time. We will continue to fill the courthouses so that each and every perpetrator receives the necessary punishment. Women who have been subjected to violence and the families of the women who have been murdered will never walk alone. Unlawful lawsuits cannot stop us; we will stop femicides!

We were at Workplaces, Schools and Campuses

This year, we were once again in squares as the Labourer Women Assemblies and University Women Assemblies. The political power’s increasing pressure on universities through YÖK (Higher Education Council) and trustee rectors alongside unqualified and unscientific education were on the agenda of young women. Despite these, young women continued their struggle and organized in universities and streets.

The year started with the resistance of labourers in January. Labourers fought for their rights in Trendyol, Yemeksepeti, Darinda Socks, Farplas, Pas South and many other factories. Strikes spread throughout the year like a wave, and women were at the forefront of the resistance. As the Labourer Women Assemblies, we said labourers who seek their rights will never walk alone in their struggle and stood with them. As the attacks by the government increased, 2022 was a year full of struggle. We will continue to fight for the rights of all labourers.

International Women’s Struggle

After the murder of Mahsa Amini by the morality police in Iran, the struggle of women alongside the rest of society against the Mullah Regime started and still continues. Women all over the world supported the women’s movement in Iran by cutting their hair. The flag made of hair became the symbol of the women’s struggle in Iran.

The US Supreme Court overturned the 1973 ‘Roe v. Wade’ decision, which had been in effect for 50 years and gave women the right to abortion. With the new decision, the states in the country have the right to restrict, ban and criminalize abortion. Following this decision, women in the US took to the streets and protested.

The stories of the life struggles of the 22 women killed in December

In Aksaray, 15-year-old Melike Arıbaş was shot in the head with a firearm by 22-year-old Muhammet Kılıç, the man she used to be with. It was learned that the perpetrator killed Melike on the pretext that her family did not approve of him.

In Şanlıurfa, 26-year-old civil engineer Bahar Hezer was shot dead with a shotgun by Yekta Hezer, her 24-year-old brother, while walking on the street.

In Bartın, 38-year-old Vesfiye Çelikok was murdered after being stabbed 20 times by Aslan Çelikok, the man she was married to. It was learned that Vesfiye had been living separately from the perpetrator for a while and that the perpetrator had been continuously threatening her.

In Ankara, 24-year-old Tülay Güçevin, mother of 2, died after being run over by a car. It was learned that Tülay, who had gotten a divorce a few months ago, had beating marks on her body. Celalettin Sefa Durukan was arrested in relation to her death after traces of blood were found in his car.

In Hakkari, Evin Ç. was shot dead with a firearm by Selahattin Ç, the man she was married to. It was learned that the perpetrator murdered her on the pretext that “she cheated”. He committed suicide afterwards.

In Şanlıurfa, 30-year-old Nesibe Alas, mother of 5, was found dead in her home in January. 11 months later, her relative Sinan Alas was arrested for her murder.

In Antalya, 61-year-old Zübeyde Tıraş was killed by being stabbed in the throat by Yusuf E. T., her son, during an argument.

In Isparta, 48-year-old nurse Selver Bulut was shot dead with a firearm in her home by Mustafa Bulut, the man she was married to.

In Balıkesir, 66-year-old Gisela Uysal was shot in the head with a firearm by Süleyman Karaaslan, the man she used to be with. Gisela had allegedly told her relatives, “I am being threatened; I feel restless”.

In Diyarbakır, 21-year-old Gülcan Atar was shot by M. Ş. D. She died in the hospital after 10 days. It was claimed that M. Ş. D. went to her neighbourhood because he was jealous of his wife from Gülcan’s brother-in-law and shot Gülcan when he saw her.

In Eskişehir, 21-year-old Ayşenur Çolakoğlu was shot dead by Hasan Fakıoğlu, the man she was allegedly together with. The perpetrator Hasan Fakıoğlu was taken into custody, and M. F., who was connected to the incident, was released on bail.

In Denizli, 35-year-old nurse Hülya Tortop was stabbed to death in front of her three kids by Murat Tortop, the man she was married to. The perpetrator was arrested.

In Kocaeli, 29-year-old Esma Nur Bakan was murdered by Levent Yelege, the man she had divorced five years ago, on the pretext that she remarried. The perpetrator also shot and wounded the man Esma Nur Bakan was married to.

In Kocaeli, 35-year-old Kıymet Budak, mother of 2, was shot dead with a firearm in the garden of a café by M. B., the man she was married to.

In Konya, 17-year-old Kevser El Salih and 15-year-old Merve Elhamed were murdered with a firearm by Yusuf Elhamed, their father, on the pretext of honour. It was learned that Kevser was married and had 2 children.

In Istanbul, 40-year-old teacher and astrologer Galina Trofimova, mother of 2, was found dead in her home. When investigators tried to reach out to Armin Asgari, the man she was with, it was revealed that he strangled Galina to death, told her kids, “Your mother is sleeping”, and put them in a hotel room and fled to the United States. It was also learned that valuable belongings were stolen from Galina’s house.

In Ankara, 47-year-old Pelin Ceylan, mother of 3, was shot with a firearm by Mehmet Eroğlu, the man she used to be married to. She died 12 days later. It was learned that in order to protect themselves, Pelin and her 11-year-old daughter had changed their identity information and address. It was also learned that the predator was previously imprisoned for domestic violence and drugs but was released on probation due to the pandemic.

In Diyarbakır, 19-year-old İclal Şimşek was strangled to death by Kadri Koyun, her father, on the pretext that she wanted to make decisions about her life. It was learned that after killing İclal, the predator made it seem as if she was sleeping and went to a relative’s house with his family.

In İzmir, 22-year-old Tuba Kul was killed with a firearm by Caner G., the man she was with, on the pretext that she did not quit her work at an entertainment venue. It was learned that the predator stabbed Tuba multiple times after shooting her.

In İzmir, 36-year-old Nuran Fırat, mother of 2, was stabbed to death by Ahmet Fırat, the man she was married to, on the pretext that she was taking care of stray cats.

In Manisa, 48-year-old Mutlu Menekşe was killed by being hit on the head with a hard object by Necati Akpınar, the man with whom she was in an unofficial religious matrimony. It was learned that the perpetrator had murdered 2 other women before and that he was released from prison on parole 2 years ago due to the pandemic.

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[1] Url: https://kadincinayetlerinidurduracagiz.net/veriler/3041/we-will-stop-femicides-platform-2022-annual-report

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