'Expected' deaths: Dina and Gina

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The unexpected death of Gabonese Jeannah Danys Dinabongho Ibouanga, who was a university student in Karabük on March 26...

Nine-year-old Gina's dead body found on April 8 in Kilis, the city on the border with Syria in the south. 

There are reports that both were abused before being killed. Two men have been arrested in relation to the killing of 9-year-old Gina. 

If there were not for the "Justice for Dina" campaign organized by her friends in Turkey and in her country, maybe she would also be just mentioned as another "suspicious death of a migrant woman" reflected on the male violence monitoring reports of bianet. 

Now, she is included in the monitoring report as a "suspicious death," but unfortunately she will be listed as child murder when the perpetrators come to light

Released again

According to the latest information reflected in the press, 5 of the suspects who have allegedly caused the death of Dina were released after giving their statements at the prosecutor's office and 3 were released on condition of judicial control. Karabük Chief Prosecutor's Office objected to suspect D.A.'s release. He was sent to court again and was once again released on condition of judicial control. 

And all of these happened after the struggle Dina's friends waged. 

Most recently, the police carrying out the investigation reached new security camera images. It was reported that these showed that D.A. who took Dina off the car went after her. 

D.A. who had told that he had gone home after he left Dina home was taken into custody based on the contradictions in this statement and was sent to court. So at least one suspect was detained. 

Journalist Timur Soykan shared on his social media that this suspect was released again. 

Soykan wrote, "Very odd things happen in Karabük. Dursun A. who was taken into custody for the third time by the police in relation with Dina's death, was released for the third time on condition of judicial control. 

Kerim Bahadır Şeker who is the lawyer of the Gabonese consulate says 'We are shocked.'"

Hatred towards migrants agitated before the elections

Dina's lawyer Şeker thinks that Dina's death is now an international issue. This means that there will be more pressure on Turkey, which is very good. 

Women and children are not safe in Turkey, and migrant women, are not at all. 

Most perpetrators believe that when they harm migrant women or children, nobody will stand up against them and that the investigations will somehow be closed. The death of Nadira Kadirova is a closed file for the prosecutor's office, but it is still "suspicious" to us. 

One reason for these attacks on migrants is unfortunately the hatred towards migrants which some try to agitate heading to the elections. 

Discourse that incites hate toward migrants systematically, even if started at various times over the Syrian migrants, are frequent and becoming widespread. 

Some media outlets also spread information, which is sometimes wrong. 

It is not possible to think about the violence towards migrant women and children apart from this hatred toward migrants and systematic hate speech. In fact, Dina, is talking about the racist behavior she is being subject to in her voice recordings which are now revealed. 

If we want the violence toward migrant women and children to diminish, the opposition parties have to call on the citizens at once.

If those who want people to mobilize socially and psychologically continue to point the finger at the migrants, much worse violence events may be experienced. The leaders of the opposition parties can prevent this. 

Turkey has signed many international conventions including articles concerning the safety of migrant women and children and that the state has to ensure such safety. 

Researcher and academician Cavidan Soykan prepared a report for the Gender Monitoring Association (CEİD) on this problem and recommendations for a solution. 

It is clear that the death of the university student Dina, is not an "unexpected" but "expected" one with hatred toward migrants agitated by many.  

The opposition parties have to speak up urgently in order to stop such hostility. They have to declare that they are against the violence toward migrant women and children, not fearing anything. 

There are 198 suspicious deaths recorded in the 2022 male violence monitoring report of bianet. At least 13 are women who are not citizens of Turkey.  

The numbers are crying out about male violence, crying out that women and children are not being protected, the women's movement is crying out, and the opposition speaks out even if in a low voice. Those governing the country are quiet as a mouse!

We do not accept this, we are watching. You have to protect migrant women and children!

Let it be a week when the fight for equality grows up...

 (EMK/PE)