Kyrgyzstan’s Ongoing Femicide Crisis Ignored by Authorities
BISHKEK – The heartbreaking story of Salkynai Kurmanova, whose daughter Rahima was brutally murdered after reconciling with her violent husband, sheds light on the epidemic of femicide in Kyrgyzstan. Rahima’s tragic death is just one of many shocking cases currently being heard in Kyrgyz courts, with at least three victims’ families speaking out about their devastating losses.
According to research commissioned by the Open Society Foundation, over 1,100 Kyrgyz women have been killed since 2010, with men responsible for 80 percent of the murders. In about 75 percent of the cases, the victims knew their killers. These statistics do not include female suicides, which experts believe are often linked to regular physical abuse.
Gulnara Ibraeva, a sociologist, attributes the high rates of femicide to public indifference and the ineffectiveness of state bodies. She describes the situation as a mass phenomenon that requires urgent attention and action.
The stories of Rahima and another victim, Aizhan Alykulova, highlight the extreme violence that often accompanies femicide. These women were subjected to horrific abuse and ultimately lost their lives at the hands of their partners. Despite suffering routine physical violence, many women in Kyrgyzstan do not receive justice, as less than 30 percent of nonfatal violence cases make it to court.
In addition to domestic violence, abductions of women for forced marriage are common in Kyrgyzstan, with cases of so-called bride kidnapping attracting significant attention. The country ranks low in the Women Peace and Security Index, indicating a lack of protections for women’s rights.
Despite some instances of public pressure leading to accountability for police negligence in femicide cases, there is still much work to be done to address the root causes of violence against women in Kyrgyzstan. The government’s response to these tragedies, as well as its commitment to protecting women, will be crucial in preventing future femicides and ensuring justice for victims and their families.
As the grieving mothers of Rahima and Aizhan mourn their daughters’ senseless deaths, they join a growing chorus of voices calling for change and an end to the cycle of violence that continues to claim the lives of Kyrgyz women.
