New report from the We Will Stop Femicide Platform: Femicides could not be stopped in January either

While debates over withdrawing from the Istanbul Convention continue, femicides and suspicious female deaths cannot be stopped. The We Will Stop Femicide Platform has once again brought this reality to light in its published January 2024 Report. According to the report, most of the women are killed by the men they are married to.

Notable data in the report are as follows:

31 Femicides, 21 Suspicious Female Deaths in January

Our struggle to stop femicides in Turkey has been ongoing for 14 years. As a platform, we have been disclosing femicide data to the public since 2010, when we identified the need. Unfortunately, ministries systematically fail to keep or share femicide data. While we disclose the reality of femicides and suspicious female deaths, it is also the state's duty to implement concrete solution proposals to stop femicides. We will continue our struggle to ensure that all relevant ministries and mechanisms are mobilized to fulfill this duty. 

6 women were killed under the pretext of wanting to make decisions about their own lives

This month, 31 femicides were committed, and 21 women were found dead under suspicious circumstances. Of the 31 women killed, 6 were killed under the pretext of wanting to make decisions about their own lives—such as wanting a divorce, refusing to reconcile, refusing to marry, or refusing a relationship—1 was killed for economic reasons, and 1 was killed for protecting her mother. The motive for the killing of 23 of them could not be determined. The inability to determine the motive for the killing of 23 women is a result of violence against women and femicides being rendered invisible. As long as it is not determined by whom and why women are killed; as long as fair trials are not conducted and suspects, defendants, and murderers do not receive deterrent sentences, and as long as preventive measures are not implemented, violence continues to evolve and persist.

Who were the women killed by?

Of the 31 women killed in January, 11 were killed by the man they were married to, 5 by a man they were previously married to, 3 by a man they were in a relationship with, 3 by someone they knew, 3 by a relative, 2 by a man they were previously in a relationship with, 2 by their father, 1 by their son, and 1 by someone they did not know. This month, 35% of the women were killed by the man they were married to.

Women were mostly killed in their homes

19 of the women were killed in their homes, 7 on the street, 2 in an entertainment venue, 2 in a public space, and 1 in a car. 61% of the women killed this month were killed in their homes. 

Women were mostly killed with firearms

Of the women killed this month, 19 were killed with firearms, 9 with sharp objects, and 2 by strangulation. The cause of death for 1 woman could not be determined. 61% of the women killed this month were killed with firearms.

In 11 of the 31 femicides that took place in January, the perpetrators also killed or injured others alongside the women they killed. 

Once again, the data highlighted this month shows that male violence threatens not only women but also the children, family members, or those who intervene just to protect the women who are with them. In Gaziantep, Halil Çağlar, who went to the home of Yüksel Çağlar, whom he was in the process of divorcing, with the intention of reconciling, killed Yüksel Çağlar, Yüksel's sister Adile Oymak, and Yüksel's brothers when his reconciliation offer was rejected, while also severely injuring her 21-year-old daughter Nimet Çağlar. In İzmir, the perpetrator who stabbed Suzan Ediz, with whom he was previously in a relationship, killed Suzan's daughter Behiye when she screamed for help. This is the result of a culture of impunity and non-deterrent policies. Every single femicide is the result of the authorities' attitude of ignoring violence instead of protecting women's right to life. Every decision and policy that emboldens perpetrators is a co-conspirator in these tragedies. As women's assemblies, we will continue our stance against this complicity and will resolutely continue our struggle to protect women's lives, rights, and freedoms. 

Who were the women killed by?

Of the 31 women killed in January, 11 were killed by the man they were married to, 5 by a man they were previously married to, 3 by a man they were in a relationship with, 3 by someone they knew, 3 by a relative, 2 by a man they were previously in a relationship with, 2 by their father, 1 by their son, and 1 by someone they did not know. This month, 35% of the women were killed by the man they were married to.

Women were mostly killed in their homes

19 of the women were killed in their homes, 7 on the street, 2 in an entertainment venue, 2 in a public space, and 1 in a car. 61% of the women killed this month were killed in their homes. 

Women were mostly killed with firearms

Of the women killed this month, 19 were killed with firearms, 9 with sharp objects, and 2 by strangulation. The cause of death for 1 woman could not be determined. 61% of the women killed this month were killed with firearms.

In 11 of the 31 femicides that took place in January, the perpetrators also killed or injured others alongside the women they killed. 

Once again, the data highlighted this month shows that male violence threatens not only women but also the children, family members, or those who intervene just to protect the women who are with them. In Gaziantep, Halil Çağlar, who went to the home of Yüksel Çağlar, whom he was in the process of divorcing, with the intention of reconciling, killed Yüksel Çağlar, Yüksel's sister Adile Oymak, and Yüksel's brothers when his reconciliation offer was rejected, while also severely injuring her 21-year-old daughter Nimet Çağlar. In İzmir, the perpetrator who stabbed Suzan Ediz, with whom he was previously in a relationship, killed Suzan's daughter Behiye when she screamed for help. This is the result of a culture of impunity and non-deterrent policies. Every single femicide is the result of the authorities' attitude of ignoring violence instead of protecting women's right to life. Every decision and policy that emboldens perpetrators is a co-conspirator in these tragedies. As women's assemblies, we will continue our stance against this complicity and will resolutely continue our struggle to protect women's lives, rights, and freedoms.