Mr. Minister; 14 women were killed in unsolved murders in Turkey in 2020

"In the face of violence, women are all together in all languages and colors"

(Photo by csgorselarsiv/Dilek Sarıgül)

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Last week, Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu made some important statements. What he said and even what he "did not say" about the videos of Sedat Peker, who is accused of leading a criminal organization, were - of course - also important. But what got my attention was another statement.

Soylu made a speech at the meeting of the "Parliamentary Commission for Investigating the Reasons Behind Violence Against Women in All Aspects and Determining the Measures to Take". He said:

"For instance, in our country, unlike other countries, there was no unidentified murder of women in 2020. Because after the perpetrator commits the crime, he cannot escape most of the time; he either turns himself in or he executes himself, he kills himself..."

But how true is his statement? Can we really say that the men who killed or battered women "do not escape" and "commit suicide"? More importantly, was there really no unsolved feminicides in 2020?

Our bianet male violence monitoring reports do not confirm what Interior Minister Soylu said about feminicides in Turkey.

Let me first remind you that we prepare male violence monitoring reports based on the news compiled from local and national newspapers, websites and agencies. Then let's take a look at monthly reports.

For instance, in January 2020, the deaths of at least two women (in Kayseri and Adana) were reported in the press as "unsolved murders."

In March 2020, the death of Nuray V. in İzmir province was reported in the news as an "unidentified murder."

The situation in April 2020 was not any different. The deaths of three women in Adana, İstanbul and Van were reported as "unsolved murders."

In May 2020, the death of one woman in Şırnak province was also reported in the press as an "unidentified murder."

It was the case in the first six months of 2020. What about the second half of last year?

In June 2020, the death of one woman in Diyarbakır province; in July, the deaths of two women in İzmir province and one woman in Antep province were reported in the press as "unidentified murders"?

Was it all about it? No, it was not.

In September 2020, the death of a female citizen of Georgia in İstanbul and the death of one woman from Syria were reported in the press as "unsolved murders". In November, the killing of Meliha T. in Afyon province was reported in the news as an "unidentified murder".

In the last month of 2020, in December 2020, there were no unidentified femincides. In other words, what the Minister said was only true for February, October and December. In the rest of the year, at least 14 women were killed in Turkey, but the perpetrators were not identified.

The numbers say this; the numbers are clear and real. They overwhelm us with what is not desired to be seen.

There are also some names. For instance, the death of domestic worker Nadira Kadirova in the capital city of Ankara or the death of Yeldana Kaharman, a university student and journalist in Elazığ province, was not investigated; both deaths were both kept in suspension. Justice has not been served for these women in the public conscience.

In Dersim, the fate and whereabouts of university student Gülistan Doku has not been brought to light. Despite the insistence of the public, an adequate investigation has not been carried out against suspect Zeınal A.

Can we say that "there were no unidentified murders of women in 2020"?

You made this statement, Mr. Minister; but is your mind at peace?

Wishing you an equal and fair week...

(EMK/SD)