On the evening of January 24, 2026, a horrific discovery was made in Istanbul's Şişli district. A dismembered body of a woman was found inside a garbage container in Duatepe neighborhood. The victim was identified as 37-year-old Durdona Khokimova, an Uzbek national. Examination revealed stab wounds on her back, while her head and legs had been severed from her body.
According to Turkish news outlet T24, police teams reviewing security camera footage identified three suspects: Dılshod Akhrol Uglı Turdımurotov (31), Gofurjon Akmalkhonovıch Kamalkhodaev (29), and Ekrem Kurban. Turdımurotov and Kamalkhodaev were apprehended at Istanbul Airport while attempting to flee to Georgia.
Chilling Confession
During police interrogation, Turdımurotov confessed to the murder, stating he had been in a romantic relationship with Khokimova. He claimed the killing occurred following an argument between them. He admitted to dismembering the body, placing the parts in plastic bags, transporting them in a suitcase to Şişli, and disposing of them in different garbage containers. Security camera footage showing the suspects carrying the suitcase through the streets has since emerged.
Femicide Crisis in Turkey
This brutal murder adds to Turkey's ongoing femicide crisis, which remains a grave societal issue. According to data from the "We Will Stop Femicide Platform":
Year Women Killed
2024 At least 403
2023 At least 315
2022 At least 334
2021 At least 280
The majority of femicides are committed by current or former husbands and partners. Turkey's withdrawal from the Istanbul Convention in 2021—an international treaty designed to combat violence against women—continues to draw criticism from women's rights organizations. Experts emphasize the urgent need for effective protection mechanisms and deterrent sentences to address this persistent crisis.
Photo: T24