A documentary reveals the horrifying reality of Turkey’s violence against women crisis. It features heartbreaking testimony from women who lost their children after being viciously attacked and beaten by their husbands.
The British documentary Dying to Divorce was released last week in cinemas. It focuses on the socially sanctioned killing of women in countries where one in three are victims of domestic violence.
Erdogan has been an autocratic dictator, championing conservative values while reducing women’s rights. This has led to a worsening of the current situation. In 2019, 474 women were killed in Turkey, many by partners and relatives.
Turkey has withdrawn from the Istanbul Convention. This legally binding European treaty was created to stop violence against women, protect victims, and bring perpetrators to justice. It sparked nationwide protests.
TV presenter Kübra Eken, who has worked at Bloomberg News in London, was left with limited mobility and speech and permanent brain damage when her husband beat her over the back of the head in a row over their two-day-old daughter.
Harrowing: TV presenter Kübra Eken, who has worked at Bloomberg News in London, was left with limited mobility and speech and permanent brain damage when her husband beat her over the back of the head in a row over their two-day-old daughter. This is what it looked like after the attack.
Cut down in her prime: Kübra Eken, pictured on camera before the attack, features in new documentary Dying For Divorce, which exposes the domestic violence crisis in Turkey
Rehabilitation: In order to give evidence against her husband, she had to master the art of speaking.
Another victim, identified only as Arzu, was left without legs or the use of her arms after her husband shot her seven times in close range when she asked him for a divorce.
She begged him for his forgiveness during the attack so that she could care for her six children.
Following the attack both mothers had their children taken away. Arzu’s were taken into care, while Kübra’s child was placed with her violent husband’s family.
Dying to Divorce was selected to represent Britain in the Best International Feature Film section of the Oscars. It stars Ipek Bozokurt (a lawyer and activist who tries to protect women against violence).
She said, “This country defends murderers, who would love to punish wives, daughters, or girlfriends, who want different things in their lives than before.”
“The legal system must send the message that potential killers will spend the rest of their lives in prison, regardless of whether they murder a person or if they do so with a woman. Homicides of women are politically motivated.
Kübra, was a 28-years-old television reporter working Bloomberg News in London for when she met her husband Neptun, who was then working as a producer.
The pair returned to Turkey to marry, but two days after the birth of their daughter, Neptun savagely attacked his wife, hitting her in the back of the head four times.
Near death: Arzu was just 14 years old when she married an 11-year-old man. She had six children with him before asking for a divorce. After shooting her seven times in both the legs and arms, Arzu was forced to have her legs amputated. She no longer has the ability to use her arms.
Regret. Arzu’s father Ekrem acknowledged his guilt in marrying Arzu at such an early age and added that he had “ruined the lives of all his children” to continue tradition
Kübra suffered a serious haemorrhage which initially left her unable to speak or walk and she had to undergo intensive speech therapy in order to testify against her husband in court.
Neptun claimed the damage to his wife’s brain was the result of the Caesarian section operation she had undergone days earlier.
Kübra’s husband withheld access of their daughter as the case was ongoing, with Kübra’s mother’s claiming: ‘The court granted Kübra the right to see her daughter three days a week. However, her family never permitted her to visit her.
After strenuous speech therapy, Kübra was able to testify in court and her ex-husband was charged with assault.
His sentence for him was 15 months. However, his sentence was reduced due to good conduct. This means that he hasn’t spent one day in jail.
Bozkurt, speaking after the trial outside the courthouse said that ‘You can see the injustice of this system, so we must fight it. You can’t quit or stop fighting this system, Bozkurt said.
The Forefront for Change: Dying to Divorce features Ipek Bozkurt (pictured), an activist and lawyer working to protect women from violence. Bozkurt campaigns for WE WON’T STOP FEMICI, which advocates changes in Turkish law that will ensure women killed or assaulted by their husbands are tried in Turkish courts
Kubra, her family and the court granted her full custody seven years after her attacker attack.
‘I never lost my hope,’ Kübra said. Kubra said, “I look forward to a bright future with my daughter.”
Arzu was just 14 years old when she got married to a man eleven years older than her. She had six children with him before asking for a divorce.
According to her, her husband planned to live with her mistress but he wouldn’t grant her divorce. He warned her that he’d hurt her if she did.
Arzu refused to give up on her divorce. Her husband had shot her seven times in her legs and arms. It caused so much injury that her legs were amputated. She also lost her use of her arms.
She said, “The day he did that to me, we were going into the courthouse.” “He seemed very calm. “Let’s submit a petition for divorce by mutual consent,” he said.
I went to the third level, took my children with me and returned. The man was holding a shotgun and stood before me at the entrance.
His advice was to lie down and stretch your legs. You don’t have to be shot, but I will make you crawl.
After refusing her to sit down, he shot her in the legs and used his feet for her to lift her arms off her chest.
“I put my arms beneath me. I covered my arms. “I begged him for my arms. He didn’t shoot me. I just begged.” “If I had arms, I would be able to take care of my kids.”
“Don’t shoot your arms. It will make it impossible for me to take care of my children,” I said. Even if I was in a wheelchair, I could still look after my children. But what if I have no arms?
“He reached out to grab my arms and pushed the trigger against his legs. He pulled the trigger, but I was only thirsty. I asked for water.
He wouldn’t give one to me. He still was angry and shot me in the left arm. My legs and arms were hanging off of me. After having given up on all hope of life, I begged him to kill me and not make me suffer.
Arzu’s children were placed in state care during her treatment She had 13 operations on her arms, and her mother stated that she misses each one of them.
‘“I asked for custody of all my children, nothing more,” she replied. “I wanted the custody of all six children, I said to him that I would go live with my woman. He replied, “I am going to live together with her, but I won’t let you go.” He claimed he’d hurt me if we parted.
He’s ruining my life. He must give me my life back, then I will forget all about it. He should also give me my legs and arms so I can forget everything about the divorce.
Ekrem, Arzu’s father, also appears in documentary. He admits guilt in marrying his child at such an early age and adds that tradition had “ruined the lives” of his children.
He said that a month later, she had said she did not want to marry. “She said this to her mother. I told her it wasn’t possible. It wouldn’t fit our traditions, I told her that.
Exposed: Turkey’s situation is worsening under President Erdogan’s dictatorial rule, who promotes conservatism and undermines women’s rights. Turkey saw 474 deaths of women in 2019, many of them by their partners or relatives.
Protests erupted across the country after Turkey withdrew this year from Istanbul Convention. The Istanbul Convention is a legally binding European treaty that was created to stop violence against women, prosecute perpetrators and protect victims.
“I feel guilty about marrying her so young. Why does it make me feel guilty Normally, a girl must be at least 18 years old to marry. In order to continue the tradition, I have destroyed my children’s lives.
While he was in prison, her husband said that his violence is a direct result of his wife’s behavior. Because she had left him, he believed she wasn’t the mother of her children.
According to Turkish newspaper Cumhuriyet, Arzu’s husband was sentenced by the Yozgat High Criminal Court to a total of 35 years in prison, 20 years for attempting to murder his wife and 15 years for raping a woman with learning difficulties.
Arzu, who was represented by Bozkurt in court, now lives and works independently and is allowed regular visits with her children.
Bozkurt is a member of WE WILL STOP FEMICIDE, a group campaigning for changes to Turkish law to ensure that women who are murdered or attacked by their husbands receive justice in the Turkish courts.
It has been recognized for providing legal support to women and their families, as well as staging protests outside courts and gathering data about the deaths of women.
The film shows Bozkurt campaigning against legal changes introduced by Turkey’s autocratic president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
You can also see recent news footage that shows a demonstration at which traditional Turkish culture ideals regarding the sanctity and role of motherhood were used to suggest all mothers should be left alone.
This film was already praised by European film festivals and may be eligible for Academy Award glory.
DYING TO DIVOCE is currently in theatres. It also has the official Oscars UK entry for the Academy Award for ‘Best International Feature Film.