In this episode of Rotten Mango, the discussion focuses on a 2024 series of murders in Istanbul involving three 19-year-olds. The episode examines the perpetrator's connection to online incel communities through Discord servers, and how members of these groups responded to the crimes. The events led to widespread protests across Turkey demanding action against gender-based violence.
The episode also covers the Turkish government's response to these crimes, including their implementation of a media blackout and previous withdrawal from the Istanbul Convention—an agreement aimed at preventing violence against women. Additionally, the investigation uncovered a child exploitation network called "Anthraums," which used compromised government data to target minors, highlighting broader security concerns in Turkey's digital infrastructure.
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On October 4, 2024, Istanbul witnessed a series of tragic events when three 19-year-olds were killed within hours. The victims included Aishanor and Iqbal, both young women, and Semi, a young butcher who was revealed to be the perpetrator. The crimes centered around Istanbul's Ramparts Historical Site, where Semi killed his girlfriend Aishanor and later murdered Iqbal in a particularly brutal manner, involving dismemberment. These murders sparked widespread protests across Turkey, with citizens demanding government action against gender-based violence.
Investigations revealed Semi's involvement in online incel communities through various Discord servers. His participation in these groups, where anti-feminist ideologies were prevalent, influenced his actions. Following the murders, members of these incel communities celebrated the crimes and encouraged similar acts of violence. This led to public exposure and condemnation of these groups, resulting in arrests and academic expulsions for some members.
The Turkish government imposed a media blackout three days after the murders, severely limiting public discourse around the crimes. This censorship drew criticism from citizens, especially in light of Turkey's controversial withdrawal from the Istanbul Convention. The president's decision to exit the convention, citing LGBTQ+ concerns, marked Turkey as the first country to withdraw from this agreement aimed at preventing violence against women. This move faced international criticism, including from President Biden.
The investigation into Semi's incel activities led authorities to uncover a broader child exploitation network known as "Anthraums" or "901." This network used hacked government data to blackmail minors, revealing significant security vulnerabilities in Turkey's government portals. The discovery of this exploitation ring, combined with the Ramparts murders, intensified public outrage and demands for stronger government action to protect citizens, particularly children and women.
1-Page Summary
On a grim day in Istanbul, October 4, 2024, a chilling series of events left three 19-year-olds dead. Aishanor, a girl found with her throat slit; Iqbal, a girl gruesomely beheaded; and Semi, a boy who died in an apparent fall, all were the tragic subjects of a murderous sequence. The crimes converged at the Ramparts Historical Site, a location that has seen a transformation from a defense structure to a gathering place for youth.
The ghastly details of the murders began to unravel when it was discovered that Semi, a young butcher, had killed his girlfriend Aishanor and stalked another teenager, Iqbal. Aishanor was found slain in Semi's bed, her life ended in violence while covered with a black blanket. Semi's pursuit of Iqbal ended in horror when she, under threat to her family, met with him, only to be killed. Their connections revealed a sinister narrative, linked by violence and geographical proximity.
The homicides took place at Istanbul's Ramparts, a Byzantine structure now known for teenage socialization rather than historical invasions. It was here that Iqbal’s dismembered body was displayed grotesquely atop the walls and her head was tossed to the ground, landing at her mother's feet in a scene of unparalleled brutality.
Adding to the horrific atmosphere, the perpetrator's method of killing involved dismemberment, with arms cut and shoved into the neck, paralleling a suspect’s drawing. Iqbal’s body was subjected to this gruesome fate, dismembered by someone skilled with knives. Later, when police discovered Aishanor's body, it brought a disturbing closure to the couple's narrative and a stark warning of the dangers that prey on the vulnerable.
The accelerating discussions and discoveries about the murders on Turkish netizens’ platforms and incel discords demanded attention. Subsequently, the public st ...
Serial Killings & Gender Violence in Turkey 2024: Murders of Aishanor, Iqbal, and Semi
The incel community has garnered attention for its connection to a series of disturbing behaviors and even crimes, as shown by the case of a male perpetrator named Semi.
Turkish police investigations revealed that Semi participated in several online incel Discord servers where topics like anti-feminism and training women were often discussed. Stephanie Soo and other sources point out that Semi, a stalker with a history of troubling behavior, was a member of these groups. His actions and participation on platforms such as Twitter and Discord, where he used his full name, suggest an alignment with incel ideologies. The actions described, including stalking and terrorizing victims as well as the content of his video messages, indicate that Semi adopted certain tactics from his online engagements.
Although not explicitly mentioned, Semi’s calculated approach to communication implied in his video confessions suggests an obsession with persuasion and manipulation tactics consistent with those sometimes espoused in incel communities.
After Semi’s crimes, there was a disturbing reaction within the incel community in Turkey. Members of incel groups on Discord extolled Semi, and some called for others to follow in his footsteps. Widespread abhorrence was directed at incel ideologies after their online activities were exposed in the Turkish media.
In particular, incels were noted to have made dark and uncomfortable online comments, denigrating women and supporting violence agai ...
Incel Community and Their Role in Inspiring Crimes
Turkey's recent actions involving a media blackout on a high-profile murder case and the exit from the Istanbul Convention have sparked significant criticism and raised issues regarding the country's commitment to human rights and gender-based violence protection.
In the podcast, the co-hosts bring to light Turkey’s enforcement of a media blackout. This blackout came into effect three days after the discourse around a government portal that had been hacked in relation to the murders. Initially, the video of the murder in question went viral without restrictions, but shortly afterward, social media, including platforms like Discord, went dark.
A media ban imposed by the Turkish government created confusion and made it increasingly difficult to verify the details of the crimes. The Turkish president instigated this media blackout, effectively censoring the press from publishing any more about the incident.
Turkish citizens voiced their outrage over the government’s media censorship. The public recalled an instance when the government shut down Twitter during an earthquake, disrupting rescue coordination efforts. The disappointment grew as neighbors and citizens were left questioning why the burden of accountability fell solely on the public, instead of being assumed by the government. Anger was also directed at Semmy’s parents, who were interviewed prior to the major media ban. However, there was limited information available, and people were relying on channels like Discord for answers, indicating a lack of transparency from the authorities.
Turkey's president expressed discontent with the Istanbul Convention, primarily citing the inclusion of LGBTQ+ issues as conflicting with Turkey's values.
The president criticized the convention's terminology – for instance, its usage of "partner" instead of "wife and husband," which is inclusive of non-married straight couples and LGBTQ+ relationships. Moreover, he dismissed the requirement that a vi ...
Turkey's Actions: Media Blackout and Exit From Istanbul Convention
The investigation into Semichalik's alleged incel activities led authorities to uncover a grave situation—a child abuse network in Turkey, akin to the infamous "Anthraums." This network included interconnected Discord servers identified by Turkish netizens as "901."
Turkish versions of these exploitation rings were dubbed "enthronemes." The network was found to be using hacked data to blackmail minors. This information came from a government portal which lacked adequate security measures, consequently leaving personal data of citizens vulnerable. Hackers exploited this unprotected data to coerce minors into abusive situations.
While not directly stated, the implicit critique of Turkish authorities throughout the investigation and the journalist's call to action indicates that the government had previously failed to address the issue, undermining public trust. Some individuals involved in moderating the abusive Discord servers were minors and were arrested, although details about them were not made public due to their age.
Following the media exposure of the child exploitation videos, public sentiment in Turkey saw a rising tide of anger. Netizens demanded that their government take decisive action and hold those responsible accountable. This public outcry was not only about the exploitation network but al ...
Uncovering a Larger Child Exploitation Ring Online
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