Psychiatrist Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan, Founding Rector of Üsküdar Üniversitesi, attended the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM) Commission on Research into Violence and Discrimination Against Women. Speaking at the commission, Prof. Dr. Tarhan pointed out that single-person households rapidly increased between 1994 and 2016, while 5-person households rapidly decreased. Stating, “In 2024, at least 394 women were murdered by men, and 259 women were found dead under suspicious circumstances,” Tarhan underlined that violence cannot be prevented unless the divorce problem is resolved. Tarhan also noted that the main reason for violence is 'nemelazımcılık' (indifference/apathy), which spreads evil.
The Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM) Commission on Research into Violence and Discrimination Against Women convened under the chairmanship of AK Party Istanbul Deputy Hulki Cevizoğlu. Commission members listened to presentations by Psychiatrist Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan, Founding Rector of Üsküdar Üniversitesi, and Prof. Dr. Aylin Görgün Baran, a retired faculty member from Hacettepe Üniversitesi, Faculty of Letters.
“In 2024, 394 women were murdered, and 259 women were found dead under suspicious circumstances.”
Emphasizing that Turkey ranks 1st among Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries in the intimate partner violence index, Psychiatrist Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan stated; “There is a 2024 report on violence by the We Will Stop Femicides Platform. This needs to be verified, but I believe it is correct. I obtained this report from a publication in Dergipark. According to the 2024 report of the We Will Stop Femicides Platform; in 2024, at least 394 women were murdered by men, and 259 women were found dead under suspicious circumstances. The figure of 54 percent among men they were married to or in a relationship with is noteworthy. Furthermore, in Turkey's graph, the dark areas indicating the highest rates of violence against women correspond to the dark areas in another statistic, divorce statistics, which is significant, meaning that 54 percent of violence against women is partner violence. There are also statistics related to marriage here; household fragility is rapidly increasing. Single-person households rapidly increased between 1994 and 2016, while 5-person households rapidly decreased. These striking changes in family structure lead to an increase in single-parent families, a decrease in household size, and an increase in household fragility. In this situation, while marriage increased by 1.6 percent between 2001 and 2018, divorce increased by 54.8 percent.”
“If we do not manage divorces, we cannot prevent acts of violence”
Tarhan, stating that violence cannot be prevented unless the divorce problem is resolved and that the main reason for violence is 'nemelazımcılık' (indifference/apathy) which spreads evil; “The number of children under protection in Turkey is around 14,000, and this number will continue to increase if measures are not taken. The fact that the provinces with high divorce rates are the same as the provinces with violence against women resulting in death clearly shows the cause-and-effect relationship between marital problems and the problem of violence. Therefore, if we cannot manage divorces and marital problems, we cannot prevent these acts of violence. Applying handcuffs and issuing restraining orders are short-term solutions with very limited effect. There are also statistics on this. There are divorce rates according to education and gender. Individuals with higher education and high school education have shown higher rates than those with lower education…” he stated.
“A fear of marriage has emerged”
Evaluating Law No. 6284 on the Protection of Family and Prevention of Violence Against Women, Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan continued:
“In some matters, extreme measures feed their opposite. Extreme measures have emerged, and because of these extreme measures, young people are now afraid to get married. A fear of marriage has arisen. Regarding this, while Law No. 6284 especially creates awareness against violence in society, there are also examples of its misuse of violence. I learned about this law when it first came out. Of course, it was also enacted in 2014 without public debate. A judge came to me, experiencing severe depression. I investigated the cause of the depression. He had been suspended from duty. The reason for the suspension was that a female lawyer came to the judge wanting something done, and the judge did not fulfill this request. The lawyer then went and claimed that the judge harassed her, filing a complaint. He was suspended due to the rule 'the woman's statement is paramount.' This is an example I experienced in my psychiatry office.”
