When “honor” is more important than justice & understanding
In a tragic sequence of events in Istanbul, 18-year-old Oya Budak’s life ended in a brutal act of violence by her ex-fiancé
Six months earlier, she had been sexually assaulted by a man who was later arrested and imprisoned. The assault left her five-and-a-half months pregnant, which led her 19-year-old ex-fiancé, Samet T., to break off their engagement upon learning of the pregnancy.
On the night of June 25, Samet lured Oya into a meeting under the pretense of wanting to talk. During the confrontation, unable to accept the situation, he pulled out a gun and shot her in the chest and ear. Emergency services rushed her to a hospital, but despite their efforts, Oya and her unborn child could not be saved. Samet was apprehended hours later and remains in police custody.
This 209th femicide of 2025 in Turkey has reignited public fury, with women’s rights groups condemning the attack. The country saw at least 420 women murdered in 2024, mostly by partners, ex-partners, or close associates, highlighting a persistent crisis.
