President Erdoğan: violence against women is Turkey's bleeding wound

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan stated that violence against women is unacceptable and has become Turkey's "bleeding wound". He also pledged to take concrete action for violence against women in general and follow up the case against the perpetrators of Özgecan Aslan's murder in particular to ensure that they receive the worst punishment possible.

Speaking at the award ceremony of the Turkish Contractors Association on Monday, Erdoğan underscored that violence against women is betraying God as He has entrusted women to be protected and raised. He condemned men who see women's physical weakness and vulnerability as an opportunity to for them to abuse women and said they were villains and poor souls. He said that women have held a special place in Turkish society since the Seljuks and the Ottomans and that Turkish and Muslim culture highly values women.

The president said that he will personally watch the case to ensure that the ruthless murderers will receive the harshest penalty they deserve. He called on judicial decision makers to show extra sensitivity towards the case and noted that the same incident could happen to everyone's daughters if necessary action is not taken.

Erdoğan harshly criticized a group of women including Aylin Nazlıaka, a deputy from the Republican People's Party (CHP) for dancing during a demonstration held in Ankara on Sunday. He said that such people are so distanced from their own culture that they are not aware it is offensive to do such a thing.

"What place does dancing have in our culture [at times of such tragedy]?" Erdoğan said, adding that in Turkish culture, dancing in such a situation appears as if they are enjoying the tragic death. He said that it would be appropriate if the people concerned sent their condolences to the family and prayed for the soul of the victim rather than dancing on the street.

He also said that he condemns anyone who exploits the murder of the 20-year-old Özgecan Aslanfor their political gain as it is an extremely sensitive issue which should not be politicized.

Özgecan Aslan, who was a 20-year-old psychology student at Çağ University in the southern province of Mersin, was burnt after she was allegedly raped and heinously murdered by the driver of a bus she had boarded to go home. Aslan's murder has caused uproar across the country, with politicians and various organizations protesting the incident and raising awareness about the issue of femicide in Turkey.

The heinous murder has raised the topic of implementing the death penalty in Turkey for such crimes and some ministers have openly expressed the opinion that the government should discuss it in the parliament.