Killing of Emine Bulut

On 18 August 2019, Emine Bulut was having lunch with her 10-year-old daughter at a café in Kırıkkale, a province in Turkey, when Fedai Baran, her ex-husband, followed her inside. The two had divorced four years earlier. According to accounts, an argument broke out between them over custody of their child, and Baran later claimed Bulut had insulted him during the exchange. Baran then attacked Bulut with a knife he was carrying, stabbing her in the neck before fleeing the scene in a taxi.

The aftermath of the attack was captured on video, which showed Bulut screaming "I don't want to die" while holding her neck, as her daughter cried out "Mum, please don't die!" Bulut later died in the hospital from her injuries.

Days after the killing, the video began circulating widely on social media in Turkey, prompting an outpouring of public anger. Many social media users adopted the phrase "We don't want to die" and called for an end to femicides in the country. Turkey's Ministry of Family, Labour and Social Services issued a statement confirming that Bulut's daughter had been placed under the supervision of ministry psychologists, and that legal counsel had been appointed to assist in prosecuting Baran.

Gülsüm Kav, a representative of the women's rights platform We Will Stop Femicide, told the BBC that Bulut's final cry not to be killed symbolized the minimal demand of women in Turkey — simply not to be killed — and noted the added weight of her daughter's pleas. The organization reported that 31 women had been killed in Turkey in the month of July alone. Human rights groups organized protests across the country in solidarity with Bulut.

The case went to trial at the Kırıkkale Criminal Court. Attendees at the second hearing included Bulut's mother, father, and siblings, along with bar representatives from all 81 Turkish provinces and representatives of non-governmental and women's organizations. Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu publicly commented on the case via social media, describing Bulut's death as a result of male violence and pledging continued support for women and children. The Beşiktaş football club also issued a public statement condemning the killing and calling for severe penalties against perpetrators of violence against women.

The court found the 43-year-old Baran guilty of "killing with malicious intent" and sentenced him to life imprisonment, according to Turkey's state-run Anadolu news agency. The court rejected requests from Baran's lawyer for a sentence reduction.