MEDİNE MAMEDOĞLU

 

Amed- The number of women subjected to violence is increasing in Turkey every day. Dilek Bitgin, who lives in the Bismil district of Amed (Turkish: Diyarbakır) is one of the women subjected to male violence. Being subjected to violence for years by her husband Ahmet Bitgin, she was seriously injured after she was shot in the back by Ahmet Bitgin on November 10, 2021.

 He tried to make it look like a suicide

After shooting Dilek Bitgin, Ahmet Bitgin placed the gun in the hand of Dilek Bitgin to make it look like a suicide and fled the scene. Dilek Bitgin was taken to a hospital by her neighbors. Ahmet Bitgin was taken into custody and sent to prison on the same day. An indictment was prepared against Ahmet Bitgin on charges of “attempted murder” and his relative Pakize Bitgin on the charge of “destroying criminal evidence”. The fourth hearing of the trial will be held by the Diyarbakır 1st High Criminal Court on June 6, 2023 (Today).

 The court demanded a report from the ATK

During the third hearing, the court demanded a report to be prepared by the Forensic Medicine Institution (ATK) after perpetrator Ahmet Bitgin claimed that Dilek Bitgin had attempted suicide. NuJINHA spoke to Dilek Bitgin and her lawyer Şirvan Yakut, member of the Diyarbakır Bar Association’s Women’s Rights Center, about the lawsuit process.

‘I was subjected to violence for years’

After being taken to the hospital, Dilek Bitgin was held in the intensive care unit for a week. Dilek Bitgin still receives treatment. She told us that she had been subjected to violence by Ahmet Bitgin for years. “I was subjected to violence for years. I did not tell anyone about violence because he threatened me with my children and my family. His family also supported him, I was told, ‘He is a man and can inflict violence’. Once I wanted to leave the house after being subjected to violence by him; however, his family battered me and prevented me.”

 He inflicted violence even after he shot her

Speaking about the day of the incident, Dilek Bitgin said, “After the dinner, I put my children in their beds. Then, when I was going to the bedroom, I saw him behind me in the mirror in front of me. He shot me in the back by saying, ‘You don't kill yourself, and then I will kill you’. He kept inflicting violence on me although I was injured. Then, he placed the gun in my hand. I lost my consciousness after asking for help from my daughter. Then, I learned that my neighbors had taken me to the hospital.”

‘All I demand is justice’

Dilek Bitgin still receives threats from Ahmet Bitgin and his family. “All I demand is justice. He should not go unpunished. He claims that I shot myself but I did not. He shot me. I hope he is never released from prison.”

 ‘The evidence was destroyed’

 Dilek Bitgin’s lawyer Şirvan Yakut told us that Ahmet Bitgin and his relative Pakize Bitgin had destroyed the evidence after the incident. “The court demanded a report to be prepared by the ATK. The suspect has been held in prison pending the trial. The next hearing will be held on June 6.”