Cansu Nazlı: Suspicious Female Deaths Should Not Be Dismissed as Suicides

Speaking on Ada TV's "Good Morning Ada" program hosted by Nupelda Karabuğday, Nazlı shared her concerns and experiences related to these cases.

"Suspicious Female Deaths Should Not Be Dismissed as Suicides"

Nazlı recalled the first notable instance involving Akile Nacisoy, where initial police reluctance to investigate the death as a murder led to a reopening of the case after six months due to public and family pressure. Eventually, it was determined that Nacisoy had been murdered by her husband, not a suicide as initially suggested. The High Criminal Court highlighted significant shortcomings and negligence in the police investigation, complicating the legal proceedings.

Nazlı underscored the need for society to consider the possibility of foul play in suspicious female deaths, urging sensitivity and vigilance. She cited the case of Volha Viarbouskaya, who was found dead in a nightclub room. Instead of investigating her death, authorities charged the nightclub operator with encouraging illegal prostitution, leaving the circumstances of her death unresolved.

"The Greatest Danger is the Lack of or Ineffective Investigation"

Nazlı stressed the danger posed by inadequate investigations into violent deaths of women, as it may embolden perpetrators. She pointed out that calls for harsher penalties are frequent, but the real issue is the failure to initiate or properly conduct investigations.

Nazlı highlighted the disturbing trend where women are often victimized by men they know and are in relationships with, cautioning against normalizing such suspicious deaths. She noted the establishment of a police unit dedicated to combating violence against women, but acknowledged its limited activity across all districts, with personnel reductions and high workloads affecting its efficiency in Nicosia.

"The Police Must be Subject to Civil Oversight"

Advocating for civilian oversight of the police, Nazlı argued that this is essential not just for democratization but for effective public control over law enforcement. She reiterated the need for civilian oversight to ensure thorough investigations into suspicious female deaths.

Referring to the case of Hacer Ulaş, Nazlı mentioned that the autopsy confirmed her murder, but the perpetrator remains unidentified. The High Criminal Court again pointed to serious police negligence and significant gaps in the investigation file, hindering the identification of the murderer.

"Raising Our Voices for Effective Investigation into Güldeniz's Death"

Drawing from these experiences, Nazlı called for a thorough investigation into Güldeniz's recent death, where initial police reports claimed she died from head trauma after striking rocks, despite the absence of rocky areas at the location. Nazlı urged for public pressure to ensure this and other suspicious female deaths are not hastily classified as suicides or accidents without proper investigation.