Honor Victim Goes to Shelter

N.K. who was shot by her brother-in-law for allegedly having an affair while her husband served in the military, said she is innocent. Eighteen-year-old N.K. was sent to an unidentified womens shelter.

Diyarbakır

N.K. from Diyarbakir was shot and injured by her 14-year-old brother-in-law for allegedly having an affair while her husband served in the military. N.K. has now been discharged from the Dicle University's General Surgical unit and has been handed over to the officials of the Social Services Institution. N.K. had been married in a religious ceremony which isn't recognized by the state.

N.K. was allegedly having an affair with Ferit Demir, who was killed in an honor crime last week in Diyarbakir. N.K. has been sent to an unidentified women's shelter.

KA-MER there is no personal security

Neither her family nor members of women's organizations attended to N.K. while she was in hospital. "Nobody applied to the hospital to take N.K.," said Professor Doctor Yusuf Yagmur from the Emergency Room of the Research Hospital of the Medical Faculty at Dicle University (DU).

Nebahat Akkoc, head of KA-MER women's organization, told Bianet they didn't take N.K. because they feared that they would not be able to "protect" her. Akkoc argued N.K. is still in danger. "We don't have the facilities to protect N.K.," said Akkoc. "Only security forces can protect her. But we are ready to do anything else we can to help her."

She was being protected by police

N.K. was treated at the Emergency Room of the General Surgery Unit of the Research Hospital since June 15, when she was shot. Hospital officials weren't able to discharge N.K. because nobody would take care of her. Her 1-month-old baby had to be removed due to the blood loss. A police officer stood guard at the hospital to protect N.K.

"I have been defamed and they believed in it," said N.K adding that she wouldn't return to her village even if her family and husband forgave her. "I can't look at anyone's face anymore. Nobody would believe I'm innocent."

N.K. said her husband believes she is innocent but doesn't support her because of pressures from his parents. "None of my relatives, neither my father, nor my brothers showed any concern for me," she said. "I will go to a women's shelter." N.K. had lost her mother years ago. (AD/EA/YE)