MÊRDÎN – In just eight months, 23 women have died under suspicious circumstances and three have been murdered in Mêrdîn (Mardin). Lawyer Seher Acay from the Association of Lawyers for Freedom (ÖHD) warned: “We’ve reached a point where there are no longer any perpetrators to hold accountable.”

 

The recent deaths of sisters Muatter (65) and Leyla Işıktaş (60) once again brought the issue into public focus. Since January 2025, at least 23 women have died in unexplained circumstances in the region. Some, including Latife Kaya (January), Yıldız Çam (March), and Gülten Bakan (August), were labeled as "suicides." The cause of death for the Işıktaş sisters remains undetermined pending autopsy results.

 

‘THIS GOES BEYOND IMPUNITY’

 

Seher Acay said that in the past, there would be a clear suspect and the focus would be on ensuring accountability and fair trials. “Now we’re seeing a more disturbing pattern: we can’t even identify perpetrators. Some of these cases appear meticulously planned, even using forensic tactics.”

 

She pointed to cases like those of Narin Güran and Rojin Kabaiş as examples of how femicide has evolved: “The perpetrators seem increasingly ‘professional.’ We are facing a new type of crime and a new kind of perpetrator profile.”

 

‘SUSPICIOUS DEATHS MUST BE INVESTIGATED’

 

Sher Acay criticized the normalization of suicide in many of these cases, stressing that the underlying causes, including systemic gender violence, are rarely questioned. “We must investigate who or what is pushing women to the brink. There’s a patriarchal mindset behind many of these so-called suicides,” she said.

 

THE ROLE OF THE MEDIA

 

She also criticized how the media frequently attributes women’s deaths to heart attacks or other natural causes without investigation. “These headlines can shut down cases before they even begin. Media has the power to push for thorough investigations — or to bury them.”

 

Seher Acay called on both society and lawmakers to take action: “We need more than just awareness. These cases must spark legal reform, structural change, and collective mobilization. Informing the public accurately is only the first step.”

 

MA / Ahmet Kanbal