Spotlight: Turkey sees sharp rise in femicide cases after failed coup attempt in 2016

ANKARA, Jan. 4 (Xinhua) -- The femicide cases in Turkey increased sharply by 25 percent and reached 409 in 2017, causing a public outcry for more effective measures against the major social problem.

Of the 409 women, 39 percent were killed by their husband, boyfriend, or former boyfriend and husband, 33 percent by unidentified perpetrators, and 24 percent by their father, son, stepson or other relative, according to a report released by the Stop Femicide Platform.

The report also said at least 332 women were victims of sexual violence.

According to figures published by the organization on Sunday, the number of femicide cases was 237 in 2013, 294 in 2014, 303 in 2015 and 328 in 2016.

The report pointed to the current state of emergency, imposed after the coup attempt in July 15, 2016, as the primary reason for the increase in violence against women in 2017, as new laws adopted under the state of emergency prompted the violence against women.

"The state of emergency means suspension of law. Women do not see a counterpart when they report violence to the competent authorities," said Diren Cevahir Sen from the platform.

Thousands of public officers, including security and judiciary personnel, were dismissed after the coup, leading to a vacuum in human resources.

Meanwhile, projects in the Ministry of Family and public institutions related to women and children came to a halt under the state of emergency.

The government also suspended hundreds of non-government organizations, including women's rights and humanitarian organizations.

Turkey's Family and Social Policies Ministry reported that 86 percent of women in the country have encountered physical or psychological violence from a family member in their lives.

According to the ministry, 39.3 percent of women in the country are exposed to physical violence by their spouse or former spouse.

In addition, higher education does not bring immunity for Turkish women in a patriarchal country with repressive social structures. Three out of every 10 women with higher education are exposed to physical or sexual violence by their husbands, the ministry said.

Turkish women were granted equality in law, but in reality many of them suffer as a "property" of men in the conservative social structure, as the patchy implementation of existing laws often fails to protect almost 40 million women and girls in the country.

For instance, a woman refusing to marry or get back together, seeking a divorce, and suspected of cheating may easily lead to domestic violence.

Many victims do not seek help because they do not have the economic independence to stand on their own or are afraid to call the police.

The government adopts many laws against femicide but deterrence is limited, as the sentences for convicts will be reduced due to "good conduct" during trial.

Moreover, if the perpetrator's motives involve honor or family privacy, the sentence can also easily be reduced. Many women are killed by their abusive spouses even after they have appealed for police protection, as judges would send the victims home with the perpetrators.

Statistics published by the Ministry of Justice showed that sexual offenses increased while corresponding sentences decreased in recent years.

According to the Ministry of Family and Social Policies, 300 women facing domestic violence had to change identity in 2017. This figure was 40 in 2013.

In the latest case of domestic violence, Ali Yardim, 29, committed suicide on Wednesday after killing his two daughters with a pneumatic rifle. Yardim was separated from his wife and were in process of divorce.

Ali was alcoholic and often beated his wife Dilek Yardim. Dilek filed for divorce last year. They were reconciled after a while. However, Ali did not keep his promises and stabbed his wife.

Dilek filed for divorce again, and the family court gave the guardianship of their two children to her.

"He was constantly threatening me. He was coming and beating me. I have reported to the police, but they did nothing. Nobody protected us," Dilek told reporters. Enditem