Young Turkish woman’s suicide letter leads to indictment, 3 men face charges

Two years following the tragic death of 20-year-old Ilklima Naz Akboru, who took her own life in Samsun, Türkiye, the men she accused of sexual harassment are now being prosecuted.

The young Turkish woman’s detailed suicide note, found next to her body, identified the individuals responsible for the abuse that drove her to suicide. The legal process is now underway, seeking justice for the crimes she outlined.

Victim’s suicide letter exposes offenders whose harassment led to her passing

Ilklima Naz Akboru, already struggling with the aftermath of her parents’ divorce, lived with her sister in Samsun. She worked as a waitress while battling deep personal issues.

On October 15, 2022, her body was found on Atakum beach. Beside her, authorities discovered a letter in which she described the abuse she had endured from three men: Arslan Saglam, Doganay Sezgin, and Hakan Belen.

In her letter, Ilklima wrote:

• “I want that scumbag Arslan Saglam to get his punishment; everyone knows what he did.”
• “Doganay Sezgin touched me while I was asleep at his house and then denied it. He also undressed me while I was too drunk to walk and assaulted me in the shower.”
• “Hakan Belen, who I met when he was fixing my phone, lured me to his house, tried to give me drugs, and attempted to kiss me in the elevator.”

The letter ended abruptly with the words, “My paper has run out.”

Prosecutors seek justice for Turkish woman using suicide letter as evidence

Following her death, police arrested the three men named in the suicide letter. Doganay Sezgin, who had been a close acquaintance of Ilklima, confirmed that she had told him about the harassment she experienced from Arslan Saglam and Hakan Belen.

However, Sezgin denied any involvement in harassing her, while Saglam and Belen both denied the accusations as well.

Despite their denials, the prosecutor pressed charges, stating there was no reason for Ilklima to lie. Voice messages Ilklima had sent to her mother, recounting the incidents of abuse, were also added to the case.

The prosecutor emphasized that her claims were credible, leading to the filing of an 11-page indictment.

• Sezgin and Saglam face charges of “aggravated sexual assault,” with up to 18 years in prison if convicted.
• Belen, accused of “sexual assault by harassment,” could receive up to five years in prison.

The case has reignited discussions about violence against women, with many calling for greater protection for women like Ilklima. The prosecutor in the case stressed their trust for the Turkish woman’s final words saying, “There is no reason for a victim of suicide to make false accusations.”