Turkish teenager honor killed after fiance learns she was carrying baby conceived by rape

In a heartbreaking incident in Istanbul, 18-year-old Oya Budak, a pregnant rape victim, was brutally murdered by her fiancé, 19-year-old Samet T., after he discovered her pregnancy, according to Turkish and international media reports. This tragic case has once again brought the issue of femicide in Turkey to the forefront, highlighting the pervasive violence against women in the country.

Oya Budak was raped by a coworker, an assault that led to her pregnancy. Fearing stigma and judgment, she kept the assault and her pregnancy a secret from her family. The rapist was later convicted of the attack, as reported by the Toronto Star. Budak’s silence about her ordeal reflects the societal pressures and shame often faced by victims of sexual violence, particularly in conservative communities where such topics remain taboo.

Her fiancé, named by the Turkiye Gazetes as 19-year-old Samet T., reportedly discovered her pregnancy during a hospital visit and threw away her ring.

After calling off the engagement, Samet T. reportedly arranged to meet with Budak in a forested area in Sarıyer where he allegedly shot her last week. Both Budak and her five-and-a-half month-old fetus were killed after she sustained bullet wounds to her chest and ear.

Samet T. reportedly attempted to flee the scene in his father’s car but was arrested an hour after the murder. He reportedly confessed to the murder.

After appearing in court, he is reported to have told local media, “I did well, I don’t regret it.”

Budak’s grandfather told Turkish media: “The girl had been raped before, but she did not tell us. She said she had a stomachache, and I gave her medicine. She would say, ‘I feel better, grandpa.’ We do not know that she is pregnant."

She did not tell her mother, father, or aunts. When the girl said, ‘I have pain,’ her fiancé took her to the hospital and learned that she was pregnant. He told his mother and father. They said, ‘Get a divorce.’ They said, ‘If we had known she was pregnant, we would not have promised [the engagement.]’

“His mother came and said, ‘This girl is not suitable for my child.’ I said, ‘The girl loves the boy, and the boy loves the girl.’ I told the boy, ‘Make your mother and father agree, and if you accept the boy, rent a house,’ but his mother did not accept.”

Femicide in Turkey

Budak's aunt Bahriye Şener told Haber Turk, “She was only 18 years old and she was raped. She didn't do anything wrong."

Budak’s death marks the 207th case of femicide in Turkey this year, according to women’s rights organizations.

This murder marks the 207th femicide in Turkey in 2025, according to women’s rights organizations. The alarming statistic reflects a broader crisis of gender-based violence in the country, where femicide rates remain high despite growing awareness. The case has reignited calls for stronger protections for women and stricter enforcement of laws against violence. However, in a controversial move, the Istanbul Governor’s Office banned International Women’s Day protests and marches in the city, a decision that has drawn criticism from activists who argue it stifles efforts to address systemic violence against women.

Oya Budak’s story is a stark reminder of the challenges faced by victims of sexual violence and the deadly consequences of societal stigma and unchecked misogyny. Her death has fueled demands for justice and systemic change in Turkey, as advocates continue to fight for a future where women can live free from fear and violence.

Despite Budak’s recent rape and murder the Governor’s Office stated on Sunday that International Women’s Day protests and marches in the city had been banned.