The body of Rojin Kabaiş, a first-year student at Van (Wan) University’s Faculty of Education, was found on the shores of Lake Van after an 18-day search on Tuesday. Kabaiş, originally from Diyarbakır (Amed), had recently moved to Van for her studies and was last seen leaving her dormitory on 27 September. Security camera footage showed her walking towards the lakeside, wearing sweatpants and focused on her phone.
Following a massive search involving local police, gendarmerie, coast guard, and volunteer rescue teams, her body was discovered near Mollakasım village. The Van Public Prosecutor’s Office confirmed Kabaiş’s identity and ordered an autopsy to determine the cause of death.
The discovery has reignited public outcry over the increasing number of femicides in Turkey, with Kabaiş’s case following closely behind the recent murders of Narin Güran, İkbal Uzuner, and Ayşegül Halil.
Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya, expressing condolences via social media, confirmed the tragic news, stating, “Our teams found the body of our missing daughter Rojin Kabaiş on the shores of Lake Van. We extend our deepest sympathies to her family and the entire nation.”
Kabaiş’s death has added urgency to growing demands for stronger measures against violence targeting women in Turkey, where femicides have surged in recent years. Critics argue that insufficient legal protections and lack of enforcement leave women vulnerable to such attacks. The Turkish government is under pressure from activists to address this escalating crisis.
