The Latest Developments:
The seventh hearing of the case concerning the suspicious and unresolved death that took place a year ago of 17-year-old Gabonese student Jeannah Danys Dinabongho Ibouanga, commonly referred to as “Gabonese (Gabonlu) Dina,” was held on Tuesday at the Karabük 1st Criminal Court. The court ordered the release of the only detained suspect, Dursun A., ruling that he did not commit the “qualified intentional murder” and “sexual abuse” he was accused of.
Background Information Regarding the Case:
Dina was a machine engineering foundation student at Karabük University. On March 26, 2023, her lifeless body was found in Filyos Creek, prompting an investigation into her suspicious death. The investigation into the case uncovered security footage, which revealed Dina getting into Dursun A.’s vehicle in the “100. Yıl” neighborhood and later jumping out of the vehicle in front of the Karabük Governor’s Office in the “Yeşil” neighborhood.
Subsequently, it was found that the late university student had climbed over the fences along the road and passed to the riverside, while Dursun A. had made a turn to the “Demirçelik Junction” and also went to the riverside, following Dina.
Dina’s lifeless body was found covered in bruises. Investigators recovered several messages demanding sexual acts for money. Dina had previously expressed to her mother a desire to leave Karabük, expressing that she felt unsafe because of the repeated and unwanted sexual advances that affected both her and several other Gabonese female students at Karabük University.
Eight people, including three Gabonese nationals, were detained during the investigation. The other seven were released without charges, while Dursun A., initially released after three detentions, was arrested on the fourth- although was later acquitted once again.
According to Dina’s family’s lawyers, Dina had sought refuge in Dursun A.’s car out of fear, whom she viewed as an older brother, but was then subjected to sexual abuse by her entrusted friend. Dursun A.’s lawyers denied these allegations entirely.
Public Reaction Regarding Dina’s Death
Dina’s case drew significant public attention at the time of her death, becoming a catalyst for the following allegations that foreign students, Gabonese students being the focal point, in the region were being coerced into prostitution. These claims sparked broader discussions and worries about the safety and mistreatment of international students, especially black women, in Karabük.
This heavily criticized recent verdict has reignited debates over justice and the challenges faced by not just women but also marginalized communities in Türkiye, with many black women all across the nation calling for a more thorough investigation into Dina’s suspicious death and the systematic issues surrounding it. Dina has become a symbol of the omnipresent struggle for a safe nation for women of all backgrounds and origins.
Edited by: Yağmur Ece Nisanoğlu, Ömer Gökce