Analysis and comparison of domestic femicide cases in the cities of Diyarbakir & Tekirdag, Turkey: A preliminary study

Abstract

Court decision files from 2007 to 2012 were examined retrospectively in the Criminal High Courts of Diyarbakir and Tekirdag to analyse and compare domestic femicides in Diyarbakir and Tekirdag, Turkey, according to different fundamental characteristics. In total, 58 assailants were convicted of 50 femicides during this period. There were no so-called 'honour killings' in Tekirdag, while 16 (37.2%) of the homicides were honour killings in Diyarbakir. Policies to prevent violence against women, extending the means of access to post-violence services and reinforcing the law, policies and action plans to end this type of violence could be effective in decreasing cases of domestic femicide. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd and Faculty of Forensic and Legal Medicine. All rights reserved.