Calling for solidarity, Naciye taken to shelter

  • 14:05 26 May 2021
  • News
 
Derya Ren
 
ANTALYA - Subjected to the systematic violence of Deniz Açıkgöz, whom she divorced five years ago, Naciye Kurban rebelled against her experiences by saying, "Although I have complained seven times, the police take him in the morning and leave him in the evening." It was learned that Naciye was taken to the shelter by the authorities with the effect of making her voice heard on social media while we were preparing the news for publication.
 
Naciye Kurban, who lives in Antalya, divorced 5 years ago from Deniz Açıkgöz, where she was subjected to violence. The protection order of Naciye, who was threatened by the perpetrator after her divorce and continued to experience systematic violence, could not prevent the violence. It was learned that Naciye, whose complaints were inconclusive, was subjected to violence in the middle of the street by Deniz Açıkgöz, and her children were also captured 10 days ago. Naciye announced the violence she was subjected to on social media because she could not get results from the police stations she went to.
 
While Naciye, whom we interviewed about her experiences, was waiting for solidarity from women's organizations, it was learned that Naciye was taken to the shelter by the police after the video was spread on social media.
 
‘I was keeping silent so that the violence would not increase’
 
Stating that Deniz Açıkgöz, whom she met and married 11 years ago, systematically used psychological and social violence after marriage, Naciye added that after the birth of her twin children, the physical dimension of the violence also started. Naciye said: “After I got married, I learned that my husband used substances. When I found out that my husband was using substances, I tried hard to get him to quit. But he did not give up, then I had twins. After the children, violence increased more. I was afraid of violence against my children, so I always put the children to bed before he came. I was staying silent so that nobody could hear it and the violence would not increase. She noted that when he did not use violence against me, he was using it to my children.
 
‘Polices took him and released’
 
Stating that Deniz Açıkgöz had raided her house two months ago, Naciye stated that the perpetrator became more aggressive because of her divorce. Naciye explained her experiences as follows: "Two months ago, he came to my house with his knife and broke the balcony door and entered. Then he scattered the furniture in the house. He broke everything up to the toilet bowl. If I and my children were at home, we would not have salvation. When he later learned that I was not at home, he attacked the people in the building. He broke my neighbor’s (71) finger. Then the neighbors filed a complaint, but the police took his testimony and released."
 
Death threat to children, violence
 
Naciye added that the perpetrator had been bothering her continuously for the last two months and said that she had complained seven times due to this, but he was released after his statement was taken. Naciye said: "I was allowing my children to meet with him because he was the father. But when he took my children, he threatened them with death. How far will I run away with my children? I am afraid I do not want anything to happen to my children. 10 days ago, he battered me in the middle of the park. He took my kids and ran away. He then put my kids in the basement of a gallery. The psychology of my children is impaired due to this situation. He drank alcohol while children were there."
 
‘Where is the state?’
 
Adding that she cannot trust anyone at the moment, Naciye said: "The police tell me, ‘We are taking him, but the prosecutor is releasing’. What can I do, who should I trust? His family also says they are desperate. Why can't the authorities give an answer to these questions? I am told 'go to the police station' but I cannot trust. Because they take him in the morning and release him in the evening. I am afraid. I do not have any guarantee. The country is not safe for women. The man battered my four-year-old daughter. Then he is released after his statement is taken. How can such a country be safe? Don't the authorities see what happened? Why are women not protected? Where is the state?"
 
‘We do not want to die’
 
Drawing attention to the increasing femicides, Naciye stated that the government should take precautions before the femicides occur, said: "Do we have to die for the state to protect us? The state is waiting for someone to die to do something. Thousands of women and children are killed, it cannot continue this way. The killers come out after a few years. We do not want to die anymore."