'I find strength because I can inspire other women'

The date is August 4, 2023. Merve Veziroğlu was stabbed 58 times, according to her lawyer Ayşe Esra Çetin, after the psychological violence that started in the morning hours, her mobile phone was taken away from her, her ability to ask for help was destroyed, and finally she was locked in the bedroom of her own house. More than half of these 58 stab wounds were applied to Veziroğlu's neck area. The young woman fought hard to resist this attack and hugged herself to the quilt in the room, trying to prevent further stab wounds. Merve, whose ribs were broken and her lung collapsed as a result of the attack of the defendant Yunus Yıldırım, miraculously clung to life in intensive care. The long treatment process has still not been completed. Merve Veziroğlu, who received many blows to her wrist and fingers because she tried to protect her neck with her hand, has loss of sensation and strength.

In its decision on May 31, 2024, Istanbul Anatolian High Criminal Court sentenced the defendant to 20 years in prison for attempting to murder his spouse and 6 years for depriving a qualified person of his liberty, for a total of 26 years in prison. The appeal upheld the sentence. The Supreme Court recently overturned the decision as a result of the defendant's objection. We talked about the process of the case with Merve Veziroğlu and her lawyer Ayşe Esra Çetin.

'IT CONCERNS US ALL'

Merve Veziroglu

◊ Although physical wounds heal over time, we can guess that it is not easy to heal the psychological wounds of the horror you experienced. How did you feel when you heard the Supreme Court's decision in this very process?

We were raised as people who love their homeland and nation, and we always will. With this decision, everything I experienced flashed before my eyes like a movie strip. Unfortunately, I felt unheard, unseen and uncared for in my beloved homeland. Moreover, it is painful to even think about the events that this decision will empower.

◊ When you announced the Supreme Court's decision on social media, you received messages of support. On November 5, you invited those who wanted to support you to the courthouse. Why are these supports important to you?

First of all, the decisions taken as a result of this incident have long gone beyond my concern only. Every decision made concerns us all. Women can empathize much more easily. However, support from brave men also gives great hope. I call on conscientious people to be with me on the day of the trial.

◊ My aim is not to take you back to those days, but there is an allegation: The defendant did not have 'intent to kill'. Can you tell us what happened that day?

He said he did everything by planning, he called his brother and told him he would do it. His brother didn't even stop him. If someone close to me had told me this, I would have stopped him no matter what. Afterwards, I saw it from the host's interview. He said to me, "This man is a pervert, let's not talk at all," and secretly said, "We don't get along, we fight." In this way, he wanted to prevent a complaint to the police if a noise was made. He thought, "I will stay in bed for 5 months and come out." He thought he would get out of prison without working, just resting.

◊ Did Yunus Yıldırım use violence against you for the first time that night? Or did he have violent behavior before?

No, there are complaints and cases that I had to withdraw with threats. I couldn't escape because he wasn't arrested or removed from my life. In fact, before me, there was another woman who complained about him and had a file, he also threatened her with death and used violence. He filed a complaint. I learned about it after the incident. The woman explained everything to me in full detail.

◊ How did you struggle for life in the hospital afterwards?

Most of it was spent in pain and praying to God for healing. I survived on medication for days without being able to move. I couldn't even cry for a very long time because my lungs were exhausted. I questioned how I would continue to live after experiencing these.

◊ Among the support messages was one from your doctor…

He said: "... I watched the video at night (Merve Veziroğlu shot and published a video about the Supreme Court's decision) and I couldn't sleep. I relived those days as you told me. In fact, what you told is so little...

How we ran in the emergency room, tried to stop your bleeding and closed your wounds... In the intensive care unit, every night, when you were really unconscious, we gave you very heavy drugs and checked everything hourly... How we checked your oxygen every second to prevent your lungs from collapsing... They say not to bond with patients, but I'm glad I bonded with you and my sister. “I received the same happiness that I would receive from my patients throughout my life, the day we discharged you.”

◊ What else gives you strength as you continue your life?

Belief in God and submission. I know He knows my heart and I believe He has rewards in store for me. I also find strength in being able to inspire other women.

'IT WILL BE AN IMPORTANT DIVISION IN THE FIGHT AGAINST VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN'

Ayşe Esra Çetin (Merve Veziroğlu's lawyer)

◊ The case will be heard again on November 5, at 13.00, at the 21st High Criminal Court of Kartal Anatolian Courthouse. On what grounds did the Supreme Court overturn the decision? What is claimed in the application petition?

Both the defendant's lawyers and we appealed the decision of the Istanbul Anatolian High Criminal Court dated May 31, 2024. We appealed the decision because we thought that Merve's incident required a sentence longer than 26 years. In short, the defendant claimed that the sentence of 26 years was excessive and requested that it be reduced, on the grounds that he did not have the intention to kill, that he stopped stabbing at one point and called the ambulance, and that he never committed the crime of depriving the person of his liberty. The appeal upheld the sentence. This time the file was moved to the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court ruled that an acquittal should be given for the crime of deprivation of liberty, on the grounds that there is no evidence other than Merve's statement that the defendant locked the bedroom door in order to commit the act of murder, and that although Merve wanted to leave the room, the defendant prevented her from doing so. It overturned the decision on the grounds that the defendant called 112 after injuring Merve in various parts and ensured that she was hospitalized and treated, and therefore the provisions of voluntary renunciation should be applied and he should be punished for intentional injury. This decision of the Supreme Court is entirely in favor of the defendant.

◊ How will the process progress with the hearing on November 5?

The court will first make a decision as to whether it will comply with the Supreme Court's reversal decision. Our request will be for the court to give a decision to continue the 26-year prison sentence. The fact that the client received 58 stab wounds and more than half of these blows were applied to the neck area shows how intense the defendant's intent to kill was. While Merve's survival is a great miracle, according to the doctors, we do not accept that this should be interpreted as if the defendant was trying to save her after the incident. We believe that such a broad interpretation of the voluntary waiver provisions is not legally correct. In our opinion, the approach that an acquittal should be given for the crime of depriving a person of liberty is not acceptable. We interpret the decision to overturn the assessment that there was no evidence other than Merve's own statement that she was prevented from leaving the room as contradicting itself. It is appropriate for there to be no witnesses in an incident where a person is prevented from leaving a place. The worst-case scenario is that the court will abide by the reversal and sentence the defendant to the crime of aggravated assault only because of its consequences. Unfortunately, in this case, the penalty will be reduced by almost half.

◊ During the trial, it was revealed that Yıldırım said, "Even if I kill you, I will go to bed for 5-6 months." The last decision brought this word to mind...