The body of Rojin Kabaiş, a 21-year-old university student, was found on the shores of Lake Van (Wan) on Tuesday after a long search, marking the latest case in Turkey’s ongoing femicide crisis. Kabaiş, a first-year student at Van Yüzüncü Yıl University’s Faculty of Education, was last seen on 27 September. Her disappearance triggered an extensive search involving various security forces, culminating in her tragic discovery 18 days later near the village of Mollakasım.
This incident reignited public anger over the rising trend of femicides, with Kabaiş’s case following closely on the heels of other highly publicised murders. Protesters, led by local women’s groups such as Wan Women Platform, gathered to demand justice and accountability. They marched with banners bearing slogans such as ‘Jin, Jiyan, Azadî’ (Women, Life, Freedom) and ‘Justice for Rojin is Justice for All’, underlining their message that femicide is a systemic and political problem in Turkey.
Zeynep Tağtekin, of the Star Women’s Association, spoke to the assembled crowd, highlighting the political dimension of femicide in Turkey. “These acts of violence are not isolated incidents, but reflect a deeper, systematic problem rooted in patriarchy and state neglect,” she said. Tağtekin criticised the state and law enforcement for failing to protect women, claiming that patriarchal structures actively contribute to the crisis by prioritising male-dominated systems over women’s safety.
At Van Yüzüncü Yıl University, students organised a separate protest for their fellow student Rojin Kabaiş, demanding an effective investigation into her death. They marched around the campus holding banners that read “Where is Gülistan?”, “Women live freedom”, and “We don’t want foreigners on the campus”. The students also called for the rector of the university to resign and criticised policies that they said did not ensure women’s safety on campus. Despite police attempts to break up the demonstration, the students continued, demanding that women’s voices be heard.
The protests in Van (Wan) drew attention to wider patterns of gender-based violence in Turkey, where activists argue that state policies have exacerbated the problem. They pointed to cases like that of Gülistan Doku, who remains missing, and Narin Güran, whose unsolved murder has also sparked public outrage. Many accuse the state of showing leniency to perpetrators of violence against women through practices such as reduced sentences for ‘good behaviour’.
Following her death, Kabaiş was laid to rest in an emotional ceremony, with women carrying her coffin on their shoulders as a symbol of solidarity and mourning. She was buried amidst tears as mourners called for justice and an end to the femicides plaguing the country.
Kabaiş’s death has once again highlighted the importance of the Istanbul Convention and laws designed to protect women, as activists call for their effective implementation and restoration.
