Violence Against Women in Antalya: Suspect Who Continued Attack with Broken Knife Arrested

In a chilling incident that occurred in the Gazipaşa district of Antalya, 32-year-old mother of one Özge Çelik was brutally stabbed by her former boyfriend O.K., who was out on prison leave. The young woman, who sustained injuries to her head, back, and various parts of her body during the attack, stated that the assailant continued his assault even after his knife broke in her back. Following the incident, the fleeing suspect was quickly apprehended by police teams and sent back to prison. The victim was hospitalized and placed under medical treatment; it was reported that she suffered muscle loss due to the deep wounds on her body and a muscle tear in her left arm. This tragic event has once again exposed how violence could not be prevented despite the protection orders issued.

Authorities investigating the background of the incident determined that the young woman had previously obtained exactly 6 restraining and protection orders against the suspect. Çelik stated that she decided to end the relationship because of the violence she experienced on 19 Ocak, and she filed complaints numerous times, stating that she was beaten on the very day she announced this decision. Following the suspect's continued threats and insults, the victim persistently sought legal recourse. It was revealed that, despite the restraining orders and legal processes, the suspect continued to threaten the victim, using his prison leaves as an opportunity. This situation clearly highlighted the inadequacy of all the precautions the victim took within the legal system and exposed the limits of the system.

The details of the moment of the attack resemble a nightmare; on the day of the incident, O.K. suddenly appeared in front of the victim and her colleagues at the Fidanlık locality in Gazipaşa. The situation, which initially turned into an argument, transformed into a deadly attack when the suspect pulled out a knife he had hidden on him. The suspect first punched the young woman in the stomach to catch her off guard, then grabbed her by the hair, threw her to the ground, and stabbed her in the back multiple times. The fact that the large knife used broke on the victim's back on the third or fourth strike further increased the severity of the incident, but the assailant was not deterred. Unfazed by the broken knife, the suspect continued to attack the woman with the broken piece of the blade and dragged her on the ground by her hair.

Özge Çelik, who saved her life through a difficult struggle, emphasized that she was not alone during the attack and that the intervention of those around her was of vital importance. The young woman, who called her friends to her side because she did not feel safe, stated that she was defenseless against the escalation of the incident in a matter of seconds. Finding a slight opportunity to escape as bystanders and her friends tried to stop the suspect, the victim immediately called for police help via the KADES application. However, gasping for breath and wounded, the woman could not completely escape the attack as she continued to take blows in her injured state. Stating that she survived almost like a miracle after her experiences, Çelik added that if the knife had not broken in her back, she would have had no chance of living.

The suspect's process of making the victim's life hell was not limited to physical violence but also involved constant psychological pressure and threats. According to Çelik's statements, O.K. did not refrain from sending death threats to his victim and her circle by calling them even after entering prison. Learning that the suspect was released on leave from the prison in Samsun, the victim was immediately informed of the situation and tried to take precautions as her anxiety increased. It was learned that even on the day of the incident, the suspect went to the location where the victim's daughter was and implied that he had malicious plans. This terrifying incident has brought to the agenda the need to question the implementation of legal measures taken to prevent femicides and violence, as well as the prison leave processes.