JINHA

NEWS CENTER –At the funeral for ÖzgecanAslan, with thousands attending to bid farewell to the raped and murdered 20-year-old, Özgecan's motherSongülAslanrequested that no men participate in the group prayer.

After boarding a minibus while leaving her university on February 12,Özgecan was murdered by SuphiAltındöken, the minibus driver, along with his father NecmettinAltındöken and his friend FatihGökçe. Özgecan's body was recently discovered in the Tarsus region of Mersin province after three days.According to initial autopsy results, the three men burned Özgecan to death to destroy the evidence.

On the request of the family, only women bore Özgecan's coffin on their shouldersfrom the Mersin Cemevi (Alevi house of worship) to Akbelen Cemetery to bid Özgecan farewell, shouting the slogans"we won't make peace with your violence;" "women, life, freedom;" and "let the hands that touched Özgecan be broken."

Songül said she did not want men to take part in the group prayer.

Speaking at the funeral, Songülcalled for the murderers to receive the harshest possible legal punishment.Özgecan's father experienced a nervous breakdown and was taken away in an ambulance as the coffin was lowered into the ground.

Akdeniz Municipality Co-Mayor YükselMutlu, Mersin Women's Platform, lawyers from the Mersin Bar Association and representatives of civil society organizations also attended and gave their final respects.

Women have started a social media campaign against the murders of women with the hashtag #ÖzgecanAslan.Protests across Turkey are taking place under to demand the right to life for women.