A total of 5,696 women lost their lives in Turkey in the last 7 years. 1,441 cases were evaluated as suspicious deaths.
According to platform data’We Will Stop Femicide‘(We Will Stop Femicide)’, which prepares reports on femicides and “suspicious female deaths” increased by 82% In Turkey between 2017-2023.
According to the platform created as a civil initiative tras el asesinato de Münevver Karabulut She played a decisive role in the women’s struggle in 2010, and between 2010 and October 2024 4,255 femicides In Turkey.
A total of 5,696 women lost their lives in the last seven years. 1,441 cases were evaluated as “suspicious deaths”. Only between January and October 2024, 296 femicides were committed. During the same period they found: 184 women were killed suspiciously.
In the last 14 years, the highest number of femicides occurred in 2017, with 408 femicides. The lowest number was in 2011 The year the Istanbul Convention was signedOf which Turkey is already a part. Then there were 121 murders.
Türkiye became first country to sign Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence Istanbul ConventionIn May 2011.
Türkiye, the first country to ratify this agreement in the Turkish Grand National Assembly, withdrawal of the same in July 2021. There were 280 femicides that year. Number of femicides in 2022 increased by 20%up to 334.
Femicides are increasing due to ineffective investigations
Speaking to Euronews, ‘We Will Stop Femicide’ lawyer Esin İzel Uysal argued that the reason for the increase in female suspicious deaths is the lack of effective investigations.
“We have been trying since 2010” Explain what femicide is. If you remember, it was always described as ‘murder of love’, ‘murder of honor’, ‘murder of jealousy’. The most striking issue in suspicious female deaths is that women die by falling from a heightSo we see that they die when they are thrown.”
Uysal added, “Women do not have a balance problem.” “The problem here is that when women, for example, fall from a high place, When they start saying ‘suicide’, the files are closedProsecutors do not even see the need for an investigation.”
Uysal argued that women’s deaths were suspicious They cover more and more: “Since no measures are taken in favor of women in our country, this inequality is constantly renewed under male domination. When a woman is killed, the facts are tried to be covered up. As a result, we witness such a great inequality.” There is an increase in suspicious deaths of women.
The policy of impunity encourages femicide
Stating that the main reason for femicides is “undoubtedly the policy of impunity”, Lawyer Esin İzel Uysal confirms that in addition to the repeal of the Istanbul Convention, the Law No. 6284 on the Protection of the Family and the Prevention of Violence Against Women is also in force. is experiencing a major “attack”.
According to the law, violation of preventive measures (such as protective orders) issued by a judge can result in “impermanent imprisonment.” Uysal said they were trying fix the road To appeal this challenging prison sentence.
“We know that Law No. 6284 is currently under great attack. With the process that started with the May 2023 elections, the effort to eviscerate it continues. It was also included in the eighth and ninth judicial packages. In the draft (They wanted to pave the way for the judiciary package object to a decision of forced imprisonment. They already do this in practice. “They also wanted to give this a legal basis by amending the law.”
By turning a blind eye to femicide, other women are put in danger
Uysal said that after the Istanbul Convention, some women contacted them and said: “There is no Istanbul Convention anymore. Will the state not be able to protect me? I am exposed to violence.” Uysal said, “When there is no sanction for that person, it continues. Because he values it“.
“10 days ago, a friend of ours was harassed by two people in the middle of the street in Beyoğlu, and then These people were released. However, after the images of the incident were published on social media, these people were detained and later arrested due to reactions. “This is a policy of impunity,” he said.
ADVERT“Impunity” hinders women’s livesadded Uysal. “If you have used violence against a woman, killed her, and once you tolerate it, you endanger the lives of other women. take away the right to life“.
Pointing out that Law No. 6284 must be implemented effectively in order to solve violence against women and femicide, the lawyer said, “There is a mandatory prison sentence. Monitoring of violence and precautionary measures are also regulated. There are also technical regulations. For example, electronic clamp. A restraining order is issued but does not release you or wait for your complaint to lead to mandatory prison time.”
Uysal said that the advantages of the law are good, but despite this: There are major shortcomings in practice: “We have to continue our struggle for both the implementation of Article 6284 and the re-signing of the Istanbul Convention. Despite these reactionary measures and the attacks of the Government, I think there’s still hope“.
