Turkiye: Tülay Dağaşan Murdered by Ex-Husband
Brutal slaying of journalist exposes entrenched crisis of violence against women in Turkiye
Location: Turkiye, Kocaeli
Date: January 5, 2024
The Coalition For Women In Journalism and Women Press Freedom is utterly appalled by the murder of Tülay Dağaşan by her ex-partner and sends its deepest condolences to her family. As her killing sparks outrage, it underscores the urgent need for comprehensive measures to combat the alarming number of femicides in the country. We call on the Turkish government to reconsider its withdrawal from the Istanbul Convention; it is imperative for the state to do everything in its power to protect women and enact policies and measures to combat gender-based violence.
On January 5, 2024, journalist Tülay Dağaşan was killed in the Abdi İpekçi District of Darıca, Kocaeli by her ex-husband, Şefik Karaali, whom she divorced two years prior. Dağaşan, who has two children, worked in the advertising department of a local television station in Kocaeli. While walking on the street, he shot her. Her attacker, Karaali, managed to escape the scene by fleeing in the vehicle he arrived in.
Dağaşan sustained severe injuries, including three bullets to her neck. Despite immediate medical attention and swift transportation to the hospital by ambulance, her life could not be saved.
It has been alleged that her ex-husband previously issued threats against Dağaşan before committing this heinous act. Law enforcement has initiated an investigation and detained Karaali.
Her murder has ignited crucial discussions about the broader issue of femicide and violence against women in Turkiye. Darıca Mayor Muzaffer Bıyık, expressing profound sadness, declared on social media, "We want violence against women to end."
“ We want violence against women to end”
In 2021, the Turkish government controversially withdrew from the Istanbul Convention, the Council of Europe's treaty aimed at preventing violence against women and domestic violence.
CHP Kocaeli Deputy Harun Özgür Yıldız pointed to the government's withdrawal from the Convention as a contributing factor to Dağaşan’s death, stating, "The government, which ignored the murders of women and annulled the Istanbul Convention, is the leader of this painful situation."
The grim reality of gender-based violence in Turkiye is underscored by data from the We Will Stop Femicide Platform that revealed at least 392 women were murdered by men and 226 women died under suspicious circumstances in 2022. Despite government claims of a downward trend in femicides, the numbers remain high, with critics attributing the problem to the policies of the Justice and Development Party (AKP) government, which is accused of granting impunity to violent and abusive men.
These distressing findings emphasize the urgent need for comprehensive measures to address and combat gender-based violence in Turkiye.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism and Women Press Freedom calls for the Turkish government to reverse its decision to withdraw from the Istanbul Convention. Femicides persist at an alarming rate, necessitating that authorities, including police and state institutions, take every possible step to protect women vulnerable to such attacks.
We mourn the tragic and needless death of Tülay Dağaşan, extend heartfelt condolences to her friends and family, and call for an immediate end to gender-based violence.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism is a global organization of support for women journalists. The CFWIJ pioneered mentorship for mid-career women journalists across several countries around the world and is the first organization to focus on the status of free press for women journalists. We thoroughly document cases of any form of abuse against women in any part of the globe. Our system of individuals and organizations brings together the experience and mentorship necessary to help female career journalists navigate the industry. Our goal is to help develop a strong mechanism where women journalists can work safely and thrive.
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