Diyarbakır Bar calls for effective investigation into deaths of two foreign girls

A banner displayed during the "Justice for Dina" demonstrations.

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The Diyarbakır Bar Association Children's Rights Center has called for an effective investigation into the deaths of two girls from Gabon and Syria over the past two weeks.

Jeannah Danys Dinabongho Ibouanga, 17, was a university student in Karabük, northern Turkey. On March 26, her body was found in a stream in the city.

All six suspects who were detained after the incident were released, including one being released three times despite prosecutors' demand for his arrest.

The body of Gina, 9, was found on April 8 in Kilis, a southeastern city on Turkey's border with Syria. Two men were arrested for sexually abusing and killing the child.

"These crimes against migrants need to be investigated effectively and all those responsible must be identified and the necessary penalties imposed," said the bar association.

"It is not possible to separate the crimes committed against migrants from the anti-refugee discourses produced by the society, the support of these discourses by some circles and the irresponsible policies of the government that do not protect the human rights of refugees."

Gender inequality and racism

"The perception of gender inequality and racism that has been established in society and the belief that they will not be punished because of them, but on the contrary will be celebrated by some circles, cause the perpetrators to become stronger and these incidents to occur.

"In addition to these, as we have experienced many times, the practice of impunity that protects and strengthens the perpetrator in sexual abuse cases is among the reasons for the increase in such incidents." (AÖ/VK)