At least 315 women killed by men in Turkey during 2023

Duvar English

At least 315 women were killed by men during 2023 in Turkey whereas 248 of them were recorded as suspicious deaths, according to the Femicides and Suspicious Deaths of Women Report published by We Will Stop Femicides Platform. At least 28 women were killed despite a protection order was granted for them by the authorities.

Photograph: Women in front of Istanbul Courthouse holds a banner that reads, "It's Our Decision, We Will Stop Femicides."

After collecting data on femicides for 15 years, the platform pointed out that the only year in which femicides decreased was 2011, when the international Istanbul Convention on violence against women was signed. 

On the other hand, since 2020, when the government’s and Islamists attacks on the convention escalated, there has been an increase in femicides and suspicious deaths. Turkey in 2021 withdrew from the convention.

Graph: Femicides (dark purple) and suspicious deaths (light purple).

While 65 percent, 205 women, were killed in their homes, 18 percent were killed on the streets. Workplaces, cars, deserted places, and hotels were other places where women were killed “dominantly.”

In 2023, 55 percent of the women killed were shot with a firearm, 31 percent were stabbed, and six percent were strangled. In 2022, 60 percent of femicides were committed with firearms as well.