A male suspect has been apprehended in connection with the tragic incident where a pregnant woman fell from a balcony in Bursa, Turkey. The victim, Ekram Hassan, aged 35 and seven months pregnant, plunged from her family’s residence on Durmus Street in the Ucevler neighborhood in the Nilufer district, resulting in fatal injuries.
Upon the emergency response team’s arrival, Ekram was already deceased due to the severity of her injuries. Subsequently, her 37-year-old husband was taken into custody by authorities following the unfortunate event and was also arrested on suspicion of drug misuse.
Forensic investigators were called to the scene to examine both the interior and exterior of the property. The authorities are actively investigating all possible circumstances surrounding Ekram’s tragic fall.
Ekram’s body was transferred to the Bursa Forensic Medicine Institute for a post-mortem examination to determine the exact cause of death. Meanwhile, Ekram’s mother-in-law expressed her deep sorrow over the loss, emphasizing the special bond she shared with her daughter-in-law.
This incident adds to the growing concern over the escalating number of women’s deaths in Turkey, with the organization ‘We Will Stop Femicide’ monitoring such cases. Reports indicate that 215 women were found dead or killed in the first seven months of 2026, following Turkey’s withdrawal from the Istanbul Convention in July 2021.
The Istanbul Convention mandated thorough investigations into any violent death of women, yet concerns over femicide rates persist in the absence of official statistics released by Turkish authorities. Campaign groups like ‘We Will Stop Femicide’ play a crucial role in documenting such cases, with 294 women reported to have lost their lives at the hands of men in 2025.
Advocates stress the need for reforms in the handling of these cases to prevent further tragedies. Women’s rights campaigner Gulsum Kav highlighted the importance of meticulous crime scene investigations to gather evidence effectively. However, challenges remain as prosecutors can still close cases based on their interpretation, labeling them as accidents or suicides.
