Data from the Federation of Turkish Women’s Associations indicates that at least 420 women were killed by men in Turkey in 2024. The majority of these crimes were committed by individuals known to the victims, often within their own homes, Chronicles Reporters reveal.
Of the reported cases, 228 women were killed with firearms, while 88 were murdered using cutting tools, according to Cyprus News247. The data further showed that 159 of the victims were killed by family members, and 101 were in the process of divorce or separation at the time of their deaths.
Additionally, the deaths of 344 women in 2024 were categorized as suspicious, compared to 438 recorded murders of women in 2023. Canan Güllü, the President of the Federation of Women’s Associations of Turkey, highlighted that 19 of the women killed last year lost their lives in their homes, a place expected to be their safest refuge.
She remarked, “The fact that 19 women were killed in their own homes underscores the gravity of the situation. Women in Turkey are living in fear, and urgent action is needed to secure their right to life.” Güllü also called for robust policies to address the root causes of such violence, urging an end to justifications for these heinous acts.
Among the reported cases, some incidents stood out due to their brutal nature. In August, Elif Durmaz, a woman seeking a divorce, was stabbed 30 times by her husband in Konya. After committing the murder, he delivered her body to the police station. During his trial, his sentence was reduced from aggravated life imprisonment to 17 years due to “unjust provocation” and “good conduct.”
Similarly, in December, Eda Kuş was murdered by her lover in Izmir, who also brought her body to the authorities. That same month, Gonca Özdemir sent a chilling message to her friend, stating, “I am waiting for him to kill me now.” She was later killed by her husband in Sivas.
The report concluded by emphasizing that while the names and locations of victims may change, the pattern of violence remains disturbingly consistent.
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