1,134 women murdered in Turkey in five years

1,134 women murdered in Turkey in five years

ISTANBUL
1,134 women murdered in Turkey in five years

DHA photo

At least 1,134 women have been murdered in Turkey in the past five years, according to a website that keep tracks of femicides. 

The “kadincinayetleri.org” website counts the femicides that have been covered by the media between 2010 and 2015. 

The statistics were released in order to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women on Nov. 25.

According to the statistics, one in two women were murdered by their current or former husbands. A total of 141 women were murdered even though they applied to the authorities for protection. 

Some 235 femicides occurred during separations or divorces. 

There were 238 femicides in the past 11 months, according to the bar association in the western province of İzmir. 

“Some 238 women have been murdered since the beginning of 2016 – 238 women of all ages, all provinces and all cultures,” said lawyer Nuriye Kadan, a board member at the bar, adding that the number could increase. 

“Maybe the number has increased as we are releasing this statement. Women are rapidly being killed,” she said. 

Noting that violence against women could manifest itself in many forms, Kadan said, noting that threats, coercion, denial of freedom, failure to provide for economic needs, forced marriage at an early age, forced pregnancy and actions to ensure dependence all constituted forms of violence in public and private life. 

“The most serious, unbearable and terrifying of these forms of violence is the one committed against right to life,” she said, adding that all forms of violence against women constituted human rights violations.

“It is impossible to apprehend clear information on the women being subjected to violence. It is scientifically proven that one in three women are subjected to violence regardless of their age,” she said. 

Kadan also said the increase of violence in a society corresponds to the increase in violence against women.
“It’s almost like violence against women is going to become legal,” she added.