13-year-old child bride found shot dead

SİİRT | 12-01-2014 | 13-year-old Kader Erten, who was married off at 11 and gave birth at 12, has been found shot dead at her home in Pervari district of Siirt province. Her second child, who had been born prematurely, died recently. It is reported that Kader, originally from the Çatak district of Van province, was given in marriage (without legal status) to Mehmet Atak from the village of Düğümcüler in Pervari district around two and a half years ago. Kader Erten, who began to live with her husband’s family, became a mother at the age of 12. A year later she became pregnant for a second time.

When Mehmet Atak began to do his military service around 2 months ago in the Keşan district of Edirne province, Kader lost her second child after a premature birth.

Kader was found shot dead in her room today. Following the incident her body was sent to the Diyarbakır forensic department for a post mortem examination. The Pervari Public Prosecutor also launched an investigation after having suspicions regarding the incident. The prosecutor has taken statements from members of Mehmet Atak’s family.   The family said that their daughter-in-law had ‘been depressed since losing her second child and had not left her room’, claiming she had committed suicide.

Although on her identity card Kader’s date of birth is given as 21 July 2000, the Atak family claims this is not correct. They said: “Last year we applied to the court for a bone test to be carried out in order to establish her real age. The case is continuing.” (ANF)