Translated with AI
Protests erupted in Istanbul and Ankara following the murder of a 37-year-old Uzbek citizen, Turkish Minute reported on January 25.
The decapitated body of a woman was discovered on the evening of January 24 in the Şişli district on the European side of Istanbul. The remains were found in a dumpster, wrapped in a sheet. While reviewing CCTV footage, investigators noticed two men throwing a suitcase into another dumpster. Its contents are being investigated.
The investigation identified the deceased as 37-year-old Durdona Khakimova, an Uzbek citizen who lived and worked in Istanbul. She owned a hunting equipment store. This information was later officially confirmed by the Consulate General of Uzbekistan in Istanbul.
"During joint operations with Turkish law enforcement agencies, the identity of the deceased was established. The deceased is a citizen of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Durdona Khakimova," the statement reads.
The consulate also reported that it is in contact with the family of the deceased and is providing the necessary consular and legal assistance.
Police detained three suspects. Two of them, Uzbek citizens, were detained at Istanbul airport while attempting to leave the country. The third suspect, a Turkish citizen, was arrested later. According to media reports, the detainees are 31-year-old Dilshod Turdimurotov, 29-year-old Gofurjon Kamalkhodjaev, and 58-year-old Ekrem K.
According to Turkiye Today, Turdimurotov told police that he had been in a relationship with Khakimova and committed the murder during an argument.
The incident sparked mass protests in Istanbul and Ankara. In Istanbul, over a thousand people gathered at the Osmanbey metro station in the Şişli district. The protesters held signs demanding an end to violence against women, justice for the victims, and protection of the rights of migrant women. Afterward, the demonstrators marched to the site where the body was found.
Also on January 26, the Women's Rights Center of the Istanbul Bar Association issued an official statement. Human rights activists believe this tragedy is a consequence of systemic gaps in the protection of migrant women.
A protest organized by the "We Will Stop Femicides" platform took place in Ankara, with participants demanding that those responsible be held accountable.
The platform's representative, Yşıl Kurt, stated that the crime demonstrates a sense of impunity among the perpetrators.
According to the "We Will Stop Femicides" platform, 294 women were murdered in Turkey in 2025, and another 297 women were found dead under suspicious circumstances. Official national statistics on such crimes are not published in the country, so civil society organizations conduct their own monitoring based on media reports.
Sisli District Mayor Resul Emrah Shahan called femicides a serious social problem and called for coordinated action to combat violence against women.
