Turkish Interior Minister blames women of not listening warnings

Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya blamed victims of femicide of not listening to warnings. “Despite having a protection order, 32 ladies opened the door to men and were shot last year.”

Ankara- Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya answered the questions of MPs during the 2025 budget talks.

Answering the questions about femicide cases, the minister said:

“KADES is a perfect application launched on March 18, 2018 during the ministry of Süleyman (Soylu). KADES received an award at the 15th Session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean in Paris.”

‘Zero tolerance’ despite increasing violence

We have “zero tolerance” for violence against women, Ali Yerlikaya said, adding that 284 women were killed in 2022, 309 in 2023 and 276 in the first 10 months of 2024.

Ali Yerlikaya accused victims of femicide of not listening to warnings despite having a protection order. “When women get a protection order, they sign a document. Police officers read 11 articles in the document. The document says ‘We have taken you under protection, but comply with these articles’. For instance, it (document) says ‘if a suspect approaches you, go to the nearest safe place and ask for help from the law enforcement. Never meet the suspect face to face’. I say this for the first time; despite having a protection order, 32 ladies opened the door to men and were shot inside last year.”

Reaction from MPs

The MPs of the DEM Party and the CHP reacted to Ali Yerlikaya by saying “It's so easy to blame women.”