Türkiye: Women's rights activists demand justice four years after the death of İpek Er

Four years after the tragic death of 18-year-old İpek Er, who was sexually abused by Turkish Gendarmerie Sergeant Musa Orhan in the Beşiri district of Batman (Êlih), a predominantly Kurdish region in eastern Turkey, continue to demand justice and condemn the state's continued protection of Orhan.

His death on August 18, 2020 by suicide following the attack remains a powerful symbol of the systemic violence faced by women in Turkey. especially Kurdish women.

Orhan, was sentenced charged with aggravated sexual assault by the Siirt High Criminal Court No. 1 in December 2021, but received a reduced sentence of 10 years due to “good behavior.” He was released under judicial supervision and remains at large while his case is pending appeal before the Court of Cassation.

Nurten Üzümcü, a member of the Central Committee of the Democratic Regions Party (DBP), highlighted the broader context of violence against women in Turkey, especially against Kurdish women. “There has been a significant increase in violence, harassment and sexual assault against women in the last decade. The attack on İpek Er is not an isolated incident, but an expression of state policies targeting women, especially Kurdish women, who face double oppression – both as women and as part of a national struggle,” she stated.

Üzümcü criticized the state's failure to hold perpetrators accountable, claiming Orhan's actions were signs of a broader strategy to use violence to suppress women's empowerment and resistance. “Musa Orhan committed his crime with the support of the state, knowing that the system would protect him. This is a targeted strategy to intimidate and control women, especially those involved in political or national movements,” she added.

Co-chair of the Batman branch of the Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (DEM), Songül Korkmaz, pointed out that perpetrators like Orhan enjoy impunity in the context of the ongoing conflict in the region. “Ipek Er's case is not only a personal tragedy, but a direct consequence of the war in Kurdistan, where women are systematically targeted. The fact that Orhan is free despite his conviction is proof of the state's policy of protecting those who commit violence under the guise of national security,” Korkmaz stated.

Activists argue that İpek Er's death was not a suicide, but a state-sanctioned murder motivated by policies that dehumanize women and deny them justice. “Musa Orhan is just one example of how the system fails women on a daily basis by allowing perpetrators to walk free while silencing victims like İpek,” Üzümcü said.

Despite repeated calls for justice, the Turkish justice system continues to delay and deny accountability, leaving İpek Er's family and supporters in a state of ongoing grief and frustration. Activists vow to continue their fight for justice, not only for İpek Er, but for all women facing violence and state-sanctioned impunity in Turkey.