A death of a young woman who was murdered and dumped in a riverbed in Turkey is prompting a wave of backlash aimed at violence against women in the country.
Ozgecan Aslan, 20, was on an empty minibus on Feb. 11 after shopping with friends when she was attacked by the bus driver. He turned off the usual route and drove into an isolated area, where she fought back against an alleged rape attempt. The psychology student was stabbed and beaten by the bus driver, Suphi Altindoken, 26.
He later confessed that he killed Aslan and mutilated her body. Altindoken, his father, and one other man have been arrested. They are believed to have helped Altindoken burn and then hide Aslan’s body.
The case has led to mass demonstrations, an outpouring of anger on social media and allegations that the ruling Justice and Development Party has not done enough to protect women. Thousands have taken to the streets to protest in cities around Turkey.
WATCH BELOW: Protesters take to the streets in Istanbul on Feb. 14.
Women have been using the hashtag #SendeAnlat to share their experiences of sexual assault, harassment and abuse.
The issue has become politically charged. Many of the demonstrators argue the government has been lenient on sentencing for domestic violence and sex crimes. Women’s rights groups have criticized skeptical comments by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan about gender equality and his suggestions that women should have many children.
Erdogan has pledged to follow the trial personally and said that he would meet with the country’s justice minister to encourage prosecutors to seek the stiffest possible penalty for the perpetrator and his alleged accomplices.
With files from The Associated Press
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