Lawmakers and parliament staff rally in demonstration against the murder of their colleague due to femicide
In recent years, Turkey has been grappling with a deeply rooted and devastating social issue - femicide. This refers to the murder of women, particularly by current or former partners or other close male relatives[1]. The We Will Stop Femicides Platform tracks the number of women killed or found dead under suspicious circumstances in Turkey, and their data paints a worrying trend.
From 2021 to 2025, hundreds of women were murdered due to femicide in Turkey, reflecting a brutal reality of gender-based violence in the country[1]. Specific numbers for the entire period 2021-2025 are not explicitly detailed, but it is clear that femicide remains a significant problem.
In 2021, 131 women were killed, rising to 164 in 2022, 147 in 2023, and 205 in 2024[1]. The first six months of 2025 saw 136 women murdered by men, according to the We Will Stop Femicides Platform.
One of the most recent and tragic cases is that of Saliha Akkas, a female employee at the Turkish parliament who was a cleaner assigned to the CHP group and was in the process of getting a divorce from her estranged husband, Salih Akkas. On a fateful day, Salih Akkas went to Saliha Akkas's home and stabbed her 37 times, following an argument, and then took his own life[2]. Saliha Akkas was taken to the hospital in critical condition but later succumbed to her injuries.
The brutal killing of Saliha Akkas by her estranged husband sparked a protest at the Turkish parliament, where several lawmakers and staff staged a silent protest to express their outrage and solidarity[3]. The protest was joined by members of the Republican People's Party (CHP) and the Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party), as well as prominent figures like Murat Emir, Semra Dinçer, Meral Danış Beştaş, and Sevilay Çelenk Özen[3].
Efforts to address gender-based violence in Turkey include various initiatives aimed at providing accessible, quality, and gender-responsive services, with some emphasis on health sector preparedness to tackle violence against women as a major public health issue[2]. However, there are criticisms and ongoing challenges related to addressing gender-based violence effectively. Key problems include the persistence of systemic issues that allow violence and femicide to continue at high rates, insufficient or ineffective legal and institutional responses, which contribute to continued impunity for perpetrators, and lenient sentencing and social or judicial sympathy toward male perpetrators, hindering justice for victims[3].
Women's rights groups have long criticized the lack of deterrence in addressing gender-based violence in Turkey[4]. Public protests and movements driven by increasing rates of femicide and gender-based violence have been significant around the world, including Turkey, highlighting calls for stronger government action and more effective policies[4].
References:
[1] We Will Stop Femicides Platform (2021-2025) [2] Anadolu Agency (2021) [3] Women's Rights in Turkey (2021) [4] Al-Jazeera (2021)
- The alarming surge in femicide cases in Turkey from 2021 to 2025, with hundreds of women losing their lives due to this violence, underscores the critical need for improved policies and stronger government action in women's health and general news.
- In the political landscape of Turkey, the brutal murder of Saliha Akkas by her estranged husband in 2021, a cleaner at the Turkish parliament, sparked widespread outrage and solidarity protests, highlighting the interplay of politics, crime, and justice in the context of women's health and wellness.
- The pervasiveness of gender-based violence in Turkey, as evident in the rising numbers of femicides, shed light on the need for comprehensive and gender-responsive healthcare services, which is a crucial aspect of the health-and-wellness sector in politics and society.
