Reactions to the arrest of Melek İpek who killed her husband Ramazan İpek who tortured her through the night in self defence in Antalya on January 7 continue. While women's organizations demand her release, discussions on self defense are back in the agenda.

 

What İpek is going through reminds of the women who were punished for defending themselves.

 

NEVİN YILDIRIM 

 

One of these women is Nevin Yıldırım who killed Nurettin Gider who raped her in Isparta, on August 28, 2012. Yıldırım cut off Gider's head, put it in a sack and threw the sack in the village square, saying 'Here's the head of the man who dishonoured me'. Yıldırım gave birth to a child after the incident. Yalvaç Chief Public Prosecutor's Office determined that Gider was the father.

 

In the 46-page indictment prepared about a year after the incident, 'aggravated life sentence' was sought for Yıldırım on the charge of 'intentional killing through torment'. As a result of the appeal made by Yıldırım's attorneys, the prosecutor removed the phrase "through torment" in the first indictment and sentenced her to aggravated life in prison for "murder in the first degree". However, the appeal was rejected and the life sentence was upheld. Yıldırım is still being held in Isparta E Type Closed Prison.

 

YASEMİN ÇAKAL 

 

Yasemin Çakal, unable to endure systematic violence, killed her husband Özkan Kaymaklı in self-defense on 10 July 2014. Cakal, who was taken into custody after the incident, was arrested. Çakal, who repeatedly filed criminal complaints against Kaymaklı to the police in the face of the violence she had suffered, asked her family for help and stated that her husband threatened her with death and stayed in a women's shelter for a while.

 

Çakal was released on July 4, 2017, because it was decided that she committed the murder in fear and excitement. During the 3 years she was held in prison, women outside fought hard for her release. Answering the questions of the journalist the day she was released from prison, Çakal said: "Jin Jiyan Azadi". Çakal was later threatened and attacked by the family of the man and had to leave the country.

 

ÇİLEM DOĞAN 

 

Çilem Doğan who lived in Adana killed her husband Hasan Karabulut in self defense on July 8, 2015. Karabulut had repeatedly subjected her to violence and forced her to prostitution. Doğan's initial sentence of aggravated life imprisonment was reduced to 15 years. Doğan said: "I walked the corridors of this court house dozens of times with bruises on my face for a protection order. I had no choice. Women protested her arrest in dozens of cities.

 

Doğan was released on a 50 thousand TL bail with judicial control measures.

 

AYLİN IŞIK 

 

Aylin Işık shot and killed her husband Cihangir Işık, who systematically subjected her to violence in the Gaziosmanpaşa district of İstanbul on December 17, 2017. In her statement, Işık said she was exposed to violence since the day she got married and that her husband threatened to kill her and rape her mother and sister the day she killed her in self defence. In the file prepared against Işık, who was arrested after the incident, aggravated life imprisonment was sought for the crime of 'intentional killing'. Writing a letter right before her hearing, Işık called on all women "who live with their heart in their mouths" to support her. While hundreds of women gathered in front of the court house before her hearing, dozens of women carried out demonstrations in different cities in solidarity.

 

The final hearing held on May 14, 2019, Işık was sentenced to aggravated life in prison for intentional killing. The court board, considering the threats of her husband 'provocation', reduced the sentence to 18 years. Considering the effects of the long imprisonment, the court reduced the sentence to 15 years.

 

GÜLŞEN BİLGİ 

 

Gülşen Bilgi, who was subjected to physical and psychological violence by her husband Vedat Bilgi in Istanbul, wanted to divorce. Bilgi, whose divorce request was not accepted, was attacked by Vedat Bilgi at her workplace on July 18, 2020. Defending herself in order not to die, Gülşen Bilgi killed Vedat Bilgi in self-defense. She was arrested and sent to prison. The prosecutor demanded that Gülşen Bilgi be tried with "intentional killing". Bilgi, who is still under arrest, is facing a 30-year prison sentence.

 

Name Öztürk who survived through self defense like Melek, Nevin, Gülşen, Çilem, Aylin and Yasemin spoke to Mesopotamia Agency (MA) about why women have to use self- defence to stay alive. 

 

NAME ÖZTÜRK 

 

Living in İstanbul, Tuzla, Name Öztürk divorced her husband Kazım Aydemir, who systematically subjected her to violence. Coming back to her place to see his child, Aydemir raped Öztürk. Being attacked by Aydemir whom she divorced in July 2018, Öztürk killed Aydemir who pointed a gun at her, threatening her with death. Held in prison for 3 years, Öztürk was finally released on May 15, 2019.

 

INJUSTICE AGAIN

 

Being released within the scope of self-defence, Öztürk said 'injustice was served again' regarding the arrest of Melek İpek. Öztürk said: "Women are misunderstood in this country". Underlining that she was not surprised İpek was arrested, Öztürk said: "I don't know if there will be a fair trial. We doubt that. Considering how Kadir Şeker was arrested, I can't be hopeful about Melek. No matter what they do, women are not understood in this country."

 

THE COST OF SURVIVAL

 

Underlining that women who survive are made to pay a price for it, Öztürk said: "We pay a heavy price for what we have been through. Women who survive are locked up for the rest of their lives. I believe Melek would have a chance with the solidarity of women. She will reunite with her children if we fight back."

 

THE STATE DOESN'T PROTECT WOMEN

 

Handling the cases of dozens of women who had to defend themselves in order to stay alive, Attorney Diren Cevahir underlined that the state does not protect women from male violence, and said that the women apply to the authorities in the face of violence but can't get any results and reminded that women are sent back to their homes where they are exposed to violence. Cevahir underlined that the 25th article of the Turkish Penal Code must be implemented, but this article is never implemented for women who are trying to survive.

 

 

MA / Semra Turan