A man was taken into custody by the police in Bursa, Turkey, following the tragic death of Ekram Hassan, a 35-year-old pregnant woman who fell from her family home in the city. The incident occurred on Durmus Street in the Ucevler neighborhood of the Nilufer district late at night. Ekram, who was seven months pregnant, suffered fatal injuries from the fall.
After the emergency response team arrived at the scene, it was discovered that Ekram had already passed away. The authorities arrested Ekram’s 37-year-old husband in connection with the incident, including on suspicion of substance misuse.
Forensic investigators examined both the interior and exterior of the property where the tragic event took place. Authorities are thoroughly investigating the circumstances surrounding Ekram’s fall to determine the cause and events leading up to the incident.
Ekram’s body was transferred to the Bursa Forensic Medicine Institute for a post-mortem examination to ascertain the exact cause of death. In the midst of this tragedy, Ekram’s mother-in-law released a heartfelt statement expressing her deep love for her daughter-in-law and the significant impact she had on her life.
The unfortunate passing of Ekram adds to the growing concerns over the rising number of women losing their lives in Turkey. Campaign group ‘We Will Stop Femicide’ reports that 215 women were found dead or killed in the country within the first seven months of 2026. These alarming statistics come after Turkey’s withdrawal from the Istanbul Convention in July 2021.
The Istanbul Convention mandated that any violent death of a woman must be thoroughly investigated. However, concerns persist over femicide rates in Turkey as official statistics on such deaths are not publicly disclosed by the authorities. Campaign groups like ‘We Will Stop Femicide’ play a crucial role in collecting data on these incidents.
In 2025, 294 women were reported to have died at the hands of men, with an additional 297 deaths classified as “suspicious” by the organization. Activists emphasize the importance of improved procedures in handling such cases, but note that decisions made by prosecutors can still lead to cases being closed as accidents or suicides.
Women’s rights campaigner and doctor Gulsum Kav highlighted the need for thorough investigations from the outset to prevent cases from being prematurely closed. The issue of women’s safety in Turkey remains a pressing concern, with calls for greater accountability and action to address the escalating femicide rates.