Eight women were murdered in separate incidents of domestic violence across Turkey within a 24-hour span on 27-28 February. “We Will Stop Femicides Platform” (KCDP) have demanded immediate action to combat the surge in gender-based violence.
Harnessing awareness of the issue in the lead up to International Women’s Day (8 March), the KCDP said the murders were a direct consequence of the Turkish government’s “misogynistic policies”.
The series of murders illustrate systemic violence against women perpetrated by the Turkish government’s rhetoric on the role of women in the family, KCDP said. The killings were not isolated incidents, nor were the close proximity of timings coincidental, the platform stressed.
The victims were killed either by a partner, an ex, a husband they wanted to divorce, or in one case, a father, and occurred in the cities of Izmir, Bursa, Sakarya, Erzurum, Denizli, Adiyaman and Istanbul.
KCDP statement
“Eight women murdered in two days,
Not a coincidence, but the work of the government.
Sevilay Karlı and Tuba Ateşci were killed by their ex-husbands,
Hatun Aslan, Elif Saydam, and Özlem Çankaya by men they wanted to divorce,
Emine Ülkü Araz and Nasim Gol Karimi by their husbands,
Dilan Özdemir killed by her father.
These figures are not a coincidence.
Women are being killed within the family, as a result of the ‘sacred family’.
Every minute that alimony, Law No. 6284*, and our civil rights are debated by the political power, women continue to be killed.
Those who ignore our solutions for stopping femicides are trying to ignore this news as well. The entire society sees that the data is not a coincidence.
We will demand accountability for the hundreds of women killed while fighting to live freely. We will end the era of public officials who fail to do their duty, those who pursue misogynistic policies, and those who want to confine women within four walls. We invite you to join our determined struggle.
Come to the front of the Kadıköy Süreyya Opera House at 15:00 [local time] on 3 March to help put an end to the news of ‘eight women murdered in two days’.”
(*) Law No. 6284 refers to the “Protection of the Family and Prevention of Violence Against Women” legislation in Turkey. This law provides protective measures for women, children and family members who are victims of domestic violence or at risk of domestic violence. The law allows for the issuance of restraining orders against the perpetrators, among other protective and preventive measures. This is a reference to the broader context of women’s rights and legal protections being subject to debate and discussion by the country’s political authorities. The ongoing debate and the potential for changes in legislation or enforcement practices contribute to an environment in which violence against women can continue, or even escalate.
