Evaluation of Honour Killings in Turkey

• Main Authors: Osman Celbis, Bora Ozdemir, Mucahit Oruc, Mustafa Dogan, Mucahit Egri
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Society of TURAZ AKADEMI 2013-06-01
• Series: Medicine Science
• Subjects: forensic science; honour killing; violence against women; homicide
• Online Access: http://www.ejmanager.com/fulltextpdf.php?mno=37963

Honour killings are still pervasive in many societies. The aim of this study is to reveal the characteristics of the victims of honour killings and honour killers in Malatya province between 2000 and 2004, and to review the concept of honour killings in Turkey. Data are collected from the records of Malatya Higher Criminal Court. The results are discussed in the light of the data obtained from Turkish Republic Ministry of Justice. There were 36 honour killings in Malatya between 2000 and 2004. An overwhelming majority of the killers lived in the rural areas, and were employed in agriculture (n=22, 61%). Of all victims, 44% were killed with fire arms. An overwhelming majority of the victims were close relatives of their killers (n=25 %70). Sixty-seven percent of the victims were killed in their homes or workplaces. In Turkey, a total of 2736 people were murdered between 2001 and 2008, and out of 2736 victims 511 were female. Prevention of honour killings will definitely decrease the number of murdered women. [Med-Science 2013; 2(2.000): 640-8]