Calis Beach and Fethiye Turkey Discussion Forum

Calis Beach Forum => Calis Beach Questions and Information => Topic started by: Liz 101 on February 07, 2013, 14:39:57 PM

Title: Another sad case
Post by: Liz 101 on February 07, 2013, 14:39:57 PM


Blonde, 34, who died after being raped twice and beaten in Turkey ironically told family she ‘felt safer there than in UK’

Beverley Mitchell (pictured) moved to Fethiye in Turkey - popular with British tourists and ex-pats. But an inquest has heard she was repeatedly beaten up, raped twice and later died in hospital last year.

& just look who the star witness is!

Full Story:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2274508/Blonde-34-died-raped-twice-beaten-Turkey-ironically-told-family-felt-safer-UK.html
Title: Re: Another sad case
Post by: Scunner on February 07, 2013, 14:43:45 PM
It's horrendous, many CBF members will have known her. RIP Beverley.
Title: Re: Another sad case
Post by: Highlander on February 07, 2013, 14:52:57 PM
Horrific :(

R.I.P
Title: Re: Another sad case
Post by: Piscoe on February 07, 2013, 15:21:19 PM
Absolutely awful, RIP.
Title: Re: Another sad case
Post by: cinders on February 07, 2013, 16:36:35 PM
So awful.... thoughts are with her family  :(
R.I.P
Title: Re: Another sad case
Post by: mercury on February 07, 2013, 17:02:53 PM
I knew about this a good few months ago after meeting her parents an hour after they had just been to identify her body. It was a horrible horrible day.. No chance of keeping it quite now..
Title: Re: Another sad case
Post by: bewva on February 07, 2013, 17:15:41 PM
A very sad and tragic story. RIP
Title: Re: Another sad case
Post by: tinkerman on February 07, 2013, 17:23:17 PM
I think its really sad, I think we have met the lady but not sure, a small community like this and we didn't know anything about it six months after the event.
Title: Re: Another sad case
Post by: mary62 on February 08, 2013, 12:47:47 PM
Very sad story indeed.
 I used to go to the PTT quite often in Hisaronu. I regularly saw young women collecting money orders from the U.K. Their boyfriend would wait outside and wait for them to exit the PTT, and demand the cash. Failure to hand it over immediately would result in a smack or punch.
Title: Re: Another sad case
Post by: busybee on February 08, 2013, 12:58:00 PM
What a trqagic end to such a young life, its bad enough that her parents have lost their only child but to have to hear what may have gone on in her life here is a double blow.  My heart goes out to them.
Title: Re: Another sad case
Post by: Scunner on February 08, 2013, 13:08:15 PM
It was sad to read from the father who (quite understandably) now concludes that young British women in Turkey are exposed to huge risk and should avoid it at all costs.
Title: Re: Another sad case
Post by: cef on February 08, 2013, 14:01:09 PM
Sad but true, but the warning from her dad should apply to all lone women thinking of going to Turkey by themselves :(

RIP, No woman deserves such cruelty & blatant disrepect for a human life.
Title: Re: Another sad case
Post by: cheffy on February 08, 2013, 23:32:06 PM
Really sad and Shocking, but not just confined to Turkey, R.I.P :0(
Title: Re: Another sad case
Post by: Scunner on February 08, 2013, 23:39:05 PM

the warning from her dad should apply to all lone women thinking of going to Turkey by themselves :(


The warning from her dad is that no woman should travel to Turkey alone. Are you seriously saying that is good advice?
Title: Re: Another sad case
Post by: savoyboy on February 08, 2013, 23:57:10 PM
Very sad !
 Once again we seem to have shown how awful we are in 2013.
Title: Re: Another sad case
Post by: cef on February 09, 2013, 02:10:36 AM

the warning from her dad should apply to all lone women thinking of going to Turkey by themselves :(


The warning from her dad is that no woman should travel to Turkey alone. Are you seriously saying that is good advice?



Yes keith I am saying that, for a variety of reasons!  Western women are just not (in the majority of cases) prepared or equipped for the difference in 'cultural values' that is real life in Turkey................
Title: Re: Another sad case
Post by: Highlander on February 09, 2013, 09:55:33 AM
Surely that would be to admit that the thugs, rapists and murderers had "won".

Is it not the case that the poor mowan could have meant a similair low life had she moved to a different part of the UK.
Title: Re: Another sad case
Post by: Anne on February 09, 2013, 10:15:08 AM
I agree Mr H.  Terrible things happen the world over not just Turkey.  The poor woman could have had the same life wherever she chose to live.
Men who rule and batter their wives and partners are not something new unfortunately.
Title: Re: Another sad case
Post by: Scunner on February 09, 2013, 10:26:49 AM
I've added a poll at the top of the page. I can't see how the sad death of one girl in a "domestic" situation means that Turkey should now be a place where women should not go alone. 
Title: Re: Another sad case
Post by: Liz 101 on February 09, 2013, 11:49:57 AM
CEF, I appreciate you've had your problems in this area, they have been well documented on CBF, but I cannot recall any of these being as a result of thugs, murderers & rapists. I think that to say that, in effect, no lone western woman is safe in Turkey is totally unfair.

I speak as a lone western woman, who has holidayed, bought property & am now living here. I feel less vulnerable here than I did in many of the major cities back in the UK & I have been to most of them over the years.

I'm not blinkered to potential problems, nor do I look at Turkey through rose coloured spectacles, I simply keep my wits about me, just as I did when living in the UK.
Title: Re: Another sad case
Post by: jrichards1 on February 09, 2013, 12:00:33 PM
Bad things happen every where, especially violent domestic situations.
 
Do I feel safe in Calis, yes I do, but that doesn't mean I put my hoilday head on and let my guard down.

Where you live in the UK does have an affect on how safe/unsafe you think an area is. This seems evident in how much independance you give your children.

Having people watched for the past 8 years, I see those who live in relatively safe, low crime areas tend to allow their children more freedom than those is tougher areas.

We live in London so are used to looking over my shoulder. My daughter has missed out on a few trips ie Olu Deniz and the jeep safari with others her age (15/16) as I wasnt comfortable with her going without an adult.

The others went and had a brilliant time, nothing bad happened to them, was I wrong???? I would not have rested had I let her go.
Title: Re: Another sad case
Post by: nichola on February 09, 2013, 12:04:11 PM
Vulnerable people can become the victims of predators and bullies where ever they are.
Title: Re: Another sad case
Post by: Scunner on February 09, 2013, 12:05:29 PM
Couldn't agree more Liz. Nobody is more aware that Calis isn't paradise than I am but I don't see it as anything more in any respect than anywhere else. What I do see is people laid back and enjoying themselves and thinking nothing can go wrong. I wouldn't have any concerns about a female friend going over alone. I would tell them to take the safeguards they do when they are out in their home town.

Should a woman be murdered by her violet husband at home in Brighton, would it cause you to tell females not to go holiday in Brighton alone? Of course not.
Title: Re: Another sad case
Post by: Karennina on February 09, 2013, 13:09:42 PM
very tragic story but it could have happened anywhere in the world....
I do travel alone to Turkey as hubby does not get as much leave as me but I make sure I have my wits about me, obviously the country is not full of rapists murderers etc but what a shame in this case this young woman picked one of the bad ones, unfortunately you will find people like that the world over...
Most of the Turkish people we have met are lovely people but I will be honest we have come across a few that we have both said afterwards "I would not like to cross him"....   
Title: Re: Another sad case
Post by: bewva on February 09, 2013, 14:03:02 PM
My wife goes over alone or with a friend and feels very safe. It does not stop her taking the same precautions she does over here though. She would not dream of walking alone down dark streets or not locking doors etc, and she is very careful using cash machines the same as here.
Title: Re: Another sad case
Post by: Highlander on February 09, 2013, 14:41:47 PM
Some people have voted "no" which they, of course, are perfectly entitled to do.

But none have posted their views. I'd be interested to know why.
Title: Re: Another sad case
Post by: cheffy on February 09, 2013, 15:06:47 PM
This is a very sad post of a  female who fell foul from the nastiest of relationships which unfortunatly ended in her death, its ludicrous to tar the whole of Turkey with the same brush, i have absolutly no hesitation, of my daughters travelling to Fethiye on their own when they come to join us after our first week of holidays, the usual rules apply, we will make sure there is a pick up, they will go out at nights, they will have taxi money, we will know where they are going to be, and they have their phone, so no different than the Uk, this is not about Turkey this is about an awful relationship that went horribly wrong.
Title: Re: Another sad case
Post by: bells on February 09, 2013, 15:40:35 PM
I always have 1 week in calis with my daughter on our own each year and have never had any problems.  You just need to be sensible and be aware of things around you, especially late at night.
Title: Re: Another sad case
Post by: desmartinson on February 09, 2013, 15:50:00 PM
it was for a yes or no John, some people might not want to put their reasons on an open forum/
Title: Re: Another sad case
Post by: susuz.1 on February 09, 2013, 21:29:41 PM
So sad to read this story and what a tragic end for the victim and such pain and stress for her family. What struck me was the way the story had been written.  The headline mentions "blonde". What is the reason for this? Are they trying to apply that being "blonde" means you are more likely a target? I say this as a friend of mine's sister was murdered in Jersey some years ago.  She was a quiet, shy girl, but the Sun published the news of her death as "Red Headed Girl Found Dead on Beach".  I remember at the time thinking what was the need for the "red head" bit. I don't think they would have printed "Red Headed Boy Found Dead on Beach", would they?

Also, what particularly shocked me in the article were the comments by readers. Comments such as people shouldn't visit Turkey/Fethiye, comments about Turkish men and general racist remarks. There were also a number of comments by defenders of Turkey/Fethiye and these had a significant number of red arrows, showing dislike at the positive remarks.

Whilst this is indeed a very sad story with a tragic ending, surely we should not tarnish a whole nation or even a whole area? I have always felt very safe but of course I do make sure I do not take any unnecessary risks. Unnecessary risks are applicable wherever you are, as are the dangers of bullies, cowards, thugs con-artists, etc.
Title: Re: Another sad case
Post by: Scunner on February 09, 2013, 21:40:08 PM
Sadly with the Daily Mail you get idiotic racist and anti-Turkish reader comments for anything relating to Turkey. It doesn't have to be a murder, a holiday review is enough to kick the DM bigots off. 
Title: Re: Another sad case
Post by: JacM on February 09, 2013, 22:31:07 PM
I voted yes because I generally feel that Fethiye is a safe place for women travelers; however that doesn't mean that lone women or any other travellers should not follow the general rules of personal safety that they would at home or anywhere else.
What happened to this young woman was wrong regardless of location or cultural attitudes and we shouldn't forget that
Title: Re: Another sad case
Post by: cef on February 10, 2013, 17:19:01 PM

the warning from her dad should apply to all lone women thinking of going to Turkey by themselves :(


The warning from her dad is that no woman should travel to Turkey alone. Are you seriously saying that is good advice?


Yes keith I am saying that, for a variety of reasons!  Western women are just not (in the majority of cases) prepared or equipped for the difference in 'cultural values' that is real life in Turkey................

Hi Liz, I couldn't help but see the funny side of what you wrote about 'my trials' in Turkey, especially the bit that said something like; 'you weren't aware I'd suffered any other problems'.  I really felt like winding you up at bit about that one but, this IS a serious subject that effects thousands of women in Turkey everyday.  Just to put your mind at rest, I've only suffered; financially, emotionally, psychologically & mentally, I've been well & truly Shafted, but 'fortunately' for me, not in the way you may have feared. 

I did say in my post 'for a variety of reasons'  One of those reasons was that I only found out after the event & after I signed the contract that Mustafa Ergur, laid his grubby hands on my (then) 15 year old son, slammed him up against the wall!!! because he thought my son was after his old bag Suzan Jeffery!!!  Did my (then) very good friends [names removed by admin] tell me about this........ NO, they all coerced to keep this from me until they had my money.........:( 

I have been threatned several times in Turkey, it was made Very clear to me that 'certain people' carry guns, that I should be Very careful when out & about as many accidents happen.  I never went anywhere without a pepper spray in my pocket, ready to use......... & I was always Very alert & careful about where I went & with whom, all very stressful & tiring..............

I am Not saying that all men there are pigs to women but there sure are a hell of a lot of them!

This poor girl is Not an isolated case by any stretch of the imagination :( "Irish women murdered" last year up the coast a bit - "American woman murdered" in Istanbul, just a couple of examples that immediately spring to mind.

Here's a couple of links that outline Turkey's appalling record on the abuse of women.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/26/world/europe/women-see-worrisome-shift-in-turkey.html?_r=0

http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/topic,45a5fb512,45a5fb6e2,4feae0352,0,,,.html
 
All women are perceived in very different ways by 'Eastern' countries, amongst them is Turkey.  The 'facade' of europeanism is just that, it changes not what they are taught by their Imman's & families, or how/what they really think about the way 'we' live.  The tourist hotspots cater for their european guests, the majority of these workers migrate for 'the season' from Very traditional, conservative parts of Turkey, here they see for the first time sights (scantily dressed women ie: in bikini's swimsuits & sun-dresses', all totally against what they have always been taught as, right, moral etc, etc.  I imagine their 'opinion' of western women is fairly cemented from the start.

Turkey has an appalling record of violence against women, one in 3 women suffer 'domestic' abuse in many forms :(

Title: Re: Another sad case
Post by: Scunner on February 11, 2013, 00:11:50 AM
Carolyne

Only you could take a topic about a murdered woman and manage to turn it around to being all about you (again).

Whatever happened between you and your "then friends" has no relevance to the topic in hand (it is about the safety of women in Turkey). Not surprisingly, your "then friends" tell a vastly different story to yours and rather than manipulate topics to attack people who have no relevance to the subject, can I please suggest you contact them directly to discuss any issues you have with them.

If we can return to the original topic that would be great folks. If not we will have to close the discussion which would be fairly irritating.
Title: Re: Another sad case
Post by: pookie on February 11, 2013, 13:05:49 PM
I've travelled on my own and will do so many times in the future.  Its safer than a lot of other places I've been !  But then again, I ain't young and attracting unwanted male attention too often these days, its also apparently clear that I can throw a mean punch if you upset me   ;)   

Would I advise my beautiful 19 year old daughter to go there on her own ?  Yes, she is street wise and knows the pitfalls, and I'd be more happy with her clubbing/shopping/eating out in Fethiye than I would be London....
Title: Re: Another sad case
Post by: Diverbaz 1 on February 11, 2013, 14:18:03 PM


But all this is not really about safe travelling, this was brought up because a young girl died in Turkey. Turkey is probably as safe as any country for travelling in.
This is about a poor girl, in, by all accounts a bad relationship, who died, nothing evident about the cause, so an open verdict was recorded. Can we not let the poor girl rest in peace.
Title: Re: Another sad case
Post by: angela on February 11, 2013, 15:37:20 PM
absolutely, she wasn't travelling around, she was in a bad relationship, with a bully, and you only have to listen to the news or read the papers on a daily basis in the UK to know that location is irrelevant.  There are more than enough females who have the same problem and the nationality of the man is equally irrelevant.
Title: Re: Another sad case
Post by: Scunner on February 11, 2013, 15:58:16 PM
Thinking about what Baz has written I think he has a point - maybe we should close this topic and if a safety in Turkey topic is required, maybe someone could start one.

If there are no objections in the next couple of hours, that's what I will do out of respect for the lady.
Title: Re: Another sad case
Post by: sunnyd on February 11, 2013, 16:34:53 PM
Agreed.
Title: Another sad case
Post by: Shamless2 on February 11, 2013, 16:46:24 PM
I agree!
Title: Re: Another sad case
Post by: ronzeus on February 11, 2013, 16:52:08 PM
I have been away a week,and just heard rIp Beverley