Feminicide in Rize Amid Increasing Male Violence Against Women During Pandemic

"Implement Istanbul Convention"

Click to read the article in Turkish / Kurdish

A man named Savaş D. killed Gamza P. in the district of Fındıklı in Turkey's Black Sea province of Rize. Working in the teacher's house in the province, Gamze P. was also an executive at the ruling Justice and Development Party's (AKP) Fındıklı District Organization.

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Speaking to bianet, a witness has said that when Gamze P. saw Savaş D. coming, she called the police; however, before the police came to the scene of incident, Savaş D. had stabbed Gamze P. to death.

Another witness speaking to bianet has also indicated that Savaş D. was constantly harassing Gamze P. and insisting on his request for friendship and Gamze P. did not accept his friendship request. The witness also said that though Gamze P. applied to the police department for many times, her complaints were not taken seriously by the police.

If the police had implemented the the protective measures stipulated by the Law no. 62 84 on the Protection of Family and Prevention of Violence Against Women, Gamze P. could be alive today.

Women: We have responsibility

After the feminicide became public, women living in Fındıklı have released a statement and expressed their requests. "We have our mourning, requests and responsibility," women have declared and called on the local authorities to take action to ensure that Savaş D. is given the severest punishment.

Women have raised four requests:

"1- While there is the murderer, don't reveal the murdered! Don't contribute to the reproduction of violence!

2- We want all Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) operating in Fındıklı, Fındıklı Sub-Governor's Office, Fındıklı Municipality, all political parties and representatives of public institutions and organizations to follow this case and to promise this to us, to the public.

3- We, as the women of Fındklı, are in mourning. We request that the public institutions and organizations in our district, the municipality, NGOs and political parties blackout their social media accounts for at least three days and join the common grief in the district.

4- There is no room for male violence in our district, in our home or in our world! We want to live!"

Mourning started in the district in morning hours. Fındıklı Sub-Governor and Mayor and representatives from the Women's Assembly, AKP, CHP, İYİ Party, MHP, EMEP, Left Party and City Council laid flowers in front of the teacher's house where Gamze P. was working.

* Photos: Fındıklı municipality social media account

Violence on the increase in the region

In March, a man named Ali R. H. killed his ex-wife Hatice Kurt in Rize. The women living in the region say that feminicides and male violence against women have increased during Covid-19 outbreak.

A woman indicated that when she called the 155 police emergency line to report an incident of male violence that she she witnessed in Rize, the police did not come to the neighborhood referring to the workload.

(EMK/SD)