Mimihan Halbin Zaidan

Bitlis – Sexually motivated crimes against female university students are increasing, with new cases added every day.

In Muğla, Pınar Gültekin was killed; in Dersim, Kilistan Doku; in Van, Rojin Kabaiş – in addition to many other female students whose names are not mentioned, their lives taken as a result of the state's male‑dominated violence, inadequate measures, and policies of impunity.

She was subjected to systematic blackmail and seeks justice

In the absence of justice for female university students, Zeynep Akaç (21 years old – she has not disclosed her real name for security reasons), a student at Bitlis Eren University, tells the story of being blackmailed since 2023. She says that when she was 18 years old, in 2023, some of her photos were manipulated and used to blackmail and threaten her. Her photos were taken from her Instagram account and turned into sexually explicit images using artificial intelligence.

She added: "This person waited until I turned 18, because the first threat I received was on my birthday. These images are not real, but I was threatened with them by an account I don't know. The account holder demanded that I send him nude photos, otherwise he would publish those images. I was scared and closed all my social media accounts."

She indicated that she lived for a long time in fear that those around her would believe these fabricated images, so she did not file an official complaint initially, affirming that the blackmail stopped for a while. "Being a university student in a small city, I didn't want this story to spread. Maybe people would think they had the right to harass me after those images were published, so I was afraid and didn't start any legal proceedings."

The threats returned again

Zeynep explained that she stopped using social media for a long time, but later returned to using it, only to be surprised after three years, in 2026, by the return of the threats. She added that she received messages from different accounts claiming to have images of her. "I thought he didn't have anything, that he had deleted the images over time. But when I checked my phone, the old messages, and my previous accounts, I realized that the same person was threatening me again."

She also noted that fake accounts were created in her name, and fabricated sexually explicit images were published using artificial intelligence. "He threatened that if I did not enter into a sexual relationship with him, he would send the images to people I know. But I had no intention of complying, because I know it wouldn't stop; he would continue blackmailing me endlessly."

"Many women are facing the same threats"

Zeynep affirmed that all the accounts that threatened her on social media were fake, noting that since that day until now, she has been contacted by at least 10 different fake accounts. She added that many female students at the university are facing similar threats.

She said that after the images were published, she went to the police station to file a complaint. "I went to the cybercrime unit, but they told me: 'We can't do anything. Even if he is punished now, he could use these images after 3 or 5 years. Also, finding this person or these people could take months.' They spoke to me as if they wanted to convince me to drop the complaint. They did not take it seriously at all."

She thus confirmed that no action was taken regarding her complaint. The complaint was not registered at the station; instead, she was given "advice" such as "do not post your pictures."

Zeynep also pointed out that the police officers at the station said to her: "Go and focus on your studies, and you can come back later. If you are physically harassed, then come." They also blamed her, saying, "We must use social media carefully; we should not expose ourselves, nor post pictures where our faces are clearly visible." In this way, she was held responsible instead of having her case seriously addressed.

The Bar Association will file a legal complaint

Zeynep explained that she fears the perpetrator might access her family's and friends' social media accounts. She affirmed that she will file a complaint with the public prosecutor's office through the women lawyers of the Women's Rights Center of the Bitlis Bar Association, noting that the images might be in the possession of more than one person, and warning of the harm she could suffer due to the length of the procedures.

She noted that the police say, "We cannot find him, we cannot determine the IP address, and if it originates from America, that will take a long time – maybe 3 or 4 months." She added that such lengthy procedures exhaust young women psychologically.

"I am afraid to go out"

Zeynep Akaç recounted her suffering, which began with the threats and continues. "I have been to a psychiatrist several times. This situation is very hard for me because I cannot go anywhere alone. I constantly think: will something happen? Will someone harass me? So I don't go out much. Meanwhile, this person lives his life normally, and I am sure he does this with many women, because he acts professionally. He targets women aged 18 and above, because if we were under 18, it would be considered child exploitation, and perhaps the case would be handled faster."

She also confirmed that similar harassment incidents are covered up at Eren University. "I know many friends who have been harassed. Some of them are subjected to physical and sexual violence until the end of their university studies, and many are threatened with images taken by force, or are drugged with alcohol or drugs and then assaulted. I want all of this to be exposed. If no attention is paid to me, my friends, or any other woman, and if punishments are not deterrent, these people will continue their crimes. Women's photos are taken at the beginning of their studies, and they are blackmailed until graduation."

A call to her fellow university students: raise your voices

Zeynep indicated that more than 10 university students have been blackmailed with their photos over the past year, leading some to suicide. She called on all women who are threatened or harassed to break the silence. "I cannot raise my voice alone. If we are several people, maybe our voice will be heard more. That is why I am speaking now on behalf of everyone. I ask every woman who suffers like I do to speak up."

For its part, the Women's Rights Center of the Bitlis Bar Association, which is defending Zeynep Akaç, announced that it will file an official complaint to uncover the perpetrator and hold him accountable.