Femicide reaches the Parliament: Killer stabbed her multiple times

Male violence against women has this time targeted a woman working at the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM). Saliha Akkaş, a parliamentary employee who was stabbed 37 times by her husband, from whom she was in the process of divorcing, lost her battle for life at the hospital where she was taken. The attacker husband took his own life following the assault.

The incident was announced to the public by CHP Ankara Deputy and Party Assembly Member Semra Dinçer. According to the information provided by Dinçer, the incident occurred during the night hours when an argument between Saliha Akkaş and her husband, who was in the process of divorcing her, quickly turned into an attack. Akkaş was critically injured in her home with 37 stab wounds.

FOUGHT FOR HER LIFE IN INTENSIVE CARE

Critically injured, Saliha Akkaş was taken to the hospital and placed in intensive care. However, despite all interventions by doctors, Akkaş passed away this morning. The news of her death was met with deep sorrow in the Parliament and among women's rights advocates.

PROTECTION REQUESTS AND COMPLAINTS REMAINED INEFFECTIVE

According to claims by family members, Saliha Akkaş had been subjected to violence by her husband for a long time and was frequently threatened. Akkaş, who worked on the second floor of the Parliament's support services department, shared with her close circle that her husband's pressure increased after she decided to divorce.

The family stated that Akkaş had repeatedly applied to official authorities for protection and filed complaints regarding the threats she faced. However, it was alleged that these requests were not evaluated effectively.

Deputies made consecutive statements regarding Akkaş's death:

CHP Group Deputy Chairman Ali Mahir Başarır:

Unfortunately, we have lost Saliha Akkaş, one of our staff members working at the TBMM, who was fighting for her life in the hospital. Saliha was critically injured the night before last after being stabbed by her husband, whom she wanted to divorce.

This is not a domestic dispute or an isolated incident. This is clearly male violence. Any politics that ignores this problem is a partner to this crime. We will not be partners to this crime.

Those who withdrew from the Istanbul Convention in one night, those who ignore women's right to life by saying "we are protecting the family," cannot escape the responsibility for these murders! They will not be able to escape! We will not allow this! I wish God's mercy upon Saliha Akkaş and patience for her family, loved ones, and colleagues. Our condolences.

"NO ONE PROTECTED HER"

CHP İzmir Deputy Sevda Erdan Kılıç:

Another woman for whom the state had taken protection measures has been murdered in plain sight. No one protected her. Our colleague from the Parliament, Saliha Akkaş, was stabbed 37 times yesterday by the man she was in the process of divorcing. Today, we learned with sadness that she lost her battle for life.

Violence is right next to us. One day it is a spouse... One day a brother... One day a father or any relative! And every time, the "state" disappears!

The Istanbul Convention was abandoned, Law No. 6284 was rendered ineffective, and women's right to life is not protected. Women are killed every day, but the government still maintains a mentality that legitimizes violence by saying "family integrity"! This is not an individual crime; this is state negligence, a political choice.

This order, which could not protect Saliha, no longer has the right to write the name of even one more woman on a tombstone! Women will continue to defend their right to life against this dark order. And we will not be silent!

CHP Deputy Chairman Burhanettin Bulut

Our colleague at the TBMM, Saliha Akkaş, was murdered by being stabbed multiple times by her husband, whom she wanted to divorce. Another woman has been added to the list of lives the state could not protect. Women are killed every day; the government does not protect, does not take precautions, it only watches.

"Withdrawing from the Istanbul Convention in one night is taking away women's life security," we warned repeatedly. We could not make them listen! Today, we are experiencing the pain of this once again. I wish God's mercy upon Saliha; and patience for her family and colleagues. Our condolences.

CHP Şanlıurfa Deputy Mahmut Tanal:

Our TBMM staff member Saliha Akkaş was murdered by the man she wanted to divorce!

This murder is not just an individual crime; it is the result of the state's failure to fulfill its obligation to protect the right to life, which is guaranteed by Article 17 of the Constitution.

The government, which not only abolished the Istanbul Convention that protects women but also rendered Law No. 6284 ineffective, is legally and conscientiously responsible for these murders.

The duty of the state is to protect women, prevent violence, punish perpetrators, and prevent the recurrence of violence. The violation of this responsibility is a clear violation of positive obligations according to ECHR case law.

We are not partners to these crimes. We will not remain silent. We will hold them accountable! I wish God's mercy upon Saliha Akkaş and offer my condolences to her family, colleagues, and all her loved ones.

31 FEMICIDES COMMITTED IN JULY

According to the July 2025 data from the We Will Stop Femicide Platform, 23 of the women were killed in their homes, 2 on the street, 1 by a body of water, 1 at her workplace, 1 in a public space, and 1 in a field. The location where 2 women were killed could not be determined. 74 percent of the women killed this month were killed in their homes.

In the month of July, 31 femicides were committed. 30 women were found dead in suspicious circumstances. Of the 31 women killed, 11 were killed under the pretext of wanting to make decisions about their own lives, such as wanting to divorce, refusing to reconcile, refusing to marry, or refusing a relationship, and 4 were killed for economic reasons. The pretext for the murder of 16 of them could not be determined.