A horrific murder in the northwestern Turkish province of Kırklareli has reignited the debate on violence against women, after a man opened fire on his ex-wife and their young daughter in a public park, killing the mother and wounding the child before fleeing the scene.

The crime occurred hours ago in the Demirtaş neighborhood of Kırklareli, located in northwestern Turkey. Çiğdem Çalkantı (26) was spending time with her four-year-old daughter Öykü at a children's playground when her ex-husband, identified only by initials Y.K., arrived.

According to Turkish media, the man drew a pistol and fired several shots at his ex-wife and daughter, sparking panic among those in the park, before fleeing the scene.

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Following reports to authorities, police and ambulance teams rushed to the scene. The mother and daughter were taken to Kırklareli Training and Research Hospital, where doctors pronounced the mother dead upon arrival due to her injuries. The child was transferred to Trakya University Faculty of Medicine Hospital due to the severity of her injuries.

Security forces cordoned off the crime scene, while forensic teams and the public prosecutor's office launched a comprehensive investigation to collect evidence and take witness statements. Police also initiated a large-scale operation to track down and apprehend the suspect.

Femicide Returns to the Forefront

The crime sparked widespread outrage on social media and once again brought the issue of femicide in Turkey to the forefront, a subject of ongoing debate between the government and civil society organizations over ways to reduce it.

Data from Turkish human rights organizations, including the platform "We Will Stop Femicide," indicates that hundreds of women are killed each year, often by current or former husbands, partners, or family members. In response, Turkish authorities maintain that they continue to take legal and security measures to combat violence against women, including issuing protection orders and toughening penalties for perpetrators of domestic violence.

The Istanbul Convention and Ongoing Debate

Such crimes reignite discussions about Turkey's withdrawal from the Istanbul Convention, a Council of Europe treaty aimed at combating violence against women and domestic violence.

Turkey was the first country to sign the convention in 2011, before announcing its withdrawal in 2021 by presidential decree, a decision that drew widespread criticism from human rights organizations and opposition, who argued it could weaken efforts to protect women.

In response, the Turkish government has repeatedly stated that withdrawal does not mean a retreat from protecting women, pointing out that national legislation, notably Law No. 6284 on the Protection of the Family and Prevention of Violence Against Women, continues to provide the legal basis for prosecuting perpetrators and protecting victims.

Despite this, violence against women remains one of Turkey's most contentious social issues, with repeated calls to strengthen prevention and protection mechanisms and expedite judicial proceedings against domestic violence offenders, as new incidents continue to occur from time to time.

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