Özgecan Aslan’s Murderers Sentenced to Aggravated Life Imprisonment

All three suspects have been sentenced to aggravated life imprisonment in murder trial of Özgecan Aslan in Mersin.

Attorneys of Aslan family stated that this verdict should set an example for all femicides.

Activists were in in court

Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) MP from Adana, Meral Danış Beştaş, Community Centers, We will Stop Femicides Platform, and Woman and Democracy Association (KADEM) participated.

Mıurderers of women receive reduced sentence

The issue most frequently voiced by lawyers and activities in femicide trials is reduced sentence.

According to the research bianet performed based on the news taking place on media, 45% of the murderers benefited reduced sentence of provocation and good conduct.

In addition to this, 29% of the murderers were sentenced to aggravated life imprisonment due to murders following systematical violence.

35% of murderers of women were “life sentenced”.

259 femicides in 2015

According to bianet’s male violence monitoring report, men murdered at least 259 women/girls, raped 122 women/girls, forced 190 women/girls to prostitution, harmed 343 women/girls, harassed 195 women/girls within the first 11 months in 2015.

It was reflected on media that in February 2015 when Özgecan Aslan was murdered men killed at least 21 women.

What happened?

On February 11, 2015, in Mersin province, minibus driver A.S.A (26) tried to rape passenger Özgecan Aslan in his minibus. Upon resistance of Aslan, A.S.A killed the woman and with the help of his father N.A. (50), his friend F.G. (20), he burned the dead body of the deceased in an isolated area after cutting Aslan’s hand off in order not to leave DNA sample.

The prosecutor Ayhan Akyol demanded aggravated life imprisonment for three murder suspects for “monstrously torturing to death, attempting to qualified sexual assault and taking the right to life away by sexual intercourse”.

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* Photo: Anıl Bağrık, Anadolu Agency