On October 4, two 19-year-old women, İkbal Uzuner and Ayşegül Halil, were brutally murdered by Semih Çelik in Istanbul. Both women had sought help from authorities, but their pleas were ignored. Their murders have sparked widespread protests and brought attention to the systemic gaps in law enforcement and Turkey’s handling of femicide.

İkbal Uzuner had been stalked by Semih Çelik, filing multiple complaints with authorities for protection. Despite the existence of Law No. 6284, designed to protect women from violence, her complaints were disregarded, leaving her vulnerable.

According to Esin İzel Uysal, a representative of the We Will Stop Femicide Platform, negligence is common, as Law No. 6284 provides legal protection but is often poorly enforced and inadequately monitored. ‘Often, when women go to the police station to file complaints, their reports are not taken seriously.’

Uysal also stressed that the murders of İkbal and Ayşegül are not isolated incidents, reflecting broader systemic failures. In the first nine months of 2024 alone, 295 women were killed, and 184 died under suspicious circumstances, according to data from the platform.

What is Law No. 6284?

Law No. 6284, enacted in Turkey in March 2012, is aimed at protecting women and children from domestic violence. It allows courts to issue protective orders, provides support services like shelters, and mandates training for law enforcement. Despite its importance, challenges in implementation and enforcement remain, raising ongoing concerns about women’s rights in Turkey.

Public outrage

Following the murders of İkbal and Ayşegül, protests and marches erupted across Turkey. Feminist groups, especially at universities, played a key role in organizing the demonstrations. ‘Women are well aware of how widespread violence is, and at the same time, they know it is preventable’, tells Uysal.

Although the government often issues statements of ‘zero tolerance’ for violence against women, activists argue that real action is missing. Uysal pointed out that official statements have been followed by little more than inaction, leaving women at risk of further violence. ‘If the government had developed policies to stop gender-based violence, both İkbal and Ayşegül could still be alive today,’ the We Will Stop Femicide Platform emphasis.

Withdrawing from the Istanbul Convention

Turkey’s 2021 withdrawal from the Istanbul Convention, a landmark treaty aimed at combating violence against women, has had significant consequences. According to We Will Stop Femicide Platform femicides decreased in 2011, the year the Convention was signed, but have since been on the rise.

The platform noted that the withdrawal has emboldened perpetrators and made women more vulnerable, as the protective framework established by the Convention was weakened. ‘When perpetrators of gender-based violence are not punished or are not arrested when necessary, they become emboldened.’

Justice and accountability

Uysal stresses that the government must “show the political will” to implement protective laws like Law No. 6284 effectively to prevent ongoing violence. The protests and advocacy efforts signal a growing movement for change, with international support playing a crucial role in combatting femicide in Turkey. Reflecting on challenges faced, Uysal noted, “In 2021, a lawsuit was unlawfully filed to shut down our association… However, we fight to save women’s lives alongside the families of murdered women and those who have experienced violence.” Ultimately, they won the case, affirming that the fight for women’s justice has become a societal movement.

The We Will Stop Femicide Platform continues its fight for justice by collecting data on femicides and advocating for victims. The organization highlights systemic issues contributing to gender-based violence, emphasizing the need for independent data collection. Their mission includes pushing for landmark rulings and holding both perpetrators and negligent authorities accountable, ensuring that victims’ stories are not forgotten.

Text: Kaoutar El Afi

Photo’s: © Kadın Cinayetlerini Durduracağız Platformu/ © Avsar