In the year 2024, Türkiye has recorded the highest ever femicide rates, being over 390 women. One of the two most controversial femicides being the murders of İkbal Uzuner and Ayşenül Halil. These women were murdered by 19-year-old Semih Çelik. These two young women were murdered in broad daylight on the same day, highlighting the unsafe conditions young women in Istanbul are living in.
"One day around 6 p.m., I took the metro to go home. When I got on, an old man kept staring at my legs. I felt uncomfortable, so I changed carriages and got off at the last station. While I was on the escalator, I felt something rubbing
For many young women in Istanbul, social media is part of daily life. Apps like Instagram, TikTok, and WhatsApp are not only spaces to connect with friends but also platforms for creativity, learning, and self-expression. However, these same spaces can also bring risks such as harassment, manipulation, and even blackmail.
Istanbul is a city full of energy, culture, and opportunity, but for many women it is also a place where daily safety concerns cannot be ignored. From crowded metro stations to late-night walks home, harassment and the risk of assault are realities that shape how women move through the city.
Experiencing sexual assault leaves deep emotional and psychological scars that cannot be ignored. Survivors often carry feelings of shame, fear, or guilt, even though none of these emotions should belong to them. The trauma is never the victim’s fault. It is a result of someone else’s decision to