Casting light behind closed doors for violence survivors in Türkiye

Above: Hayat* at the support centre after breaking the silence on the domestic violence occurring in her home. Photo: World Vision

Hayat* always strived to create a safe space for her children.

When bombardments struck their family home back in Syria, she used her own body to protect them from falling debris.

When the violence, torment and persecution witnessed by her family in Syria became too much to bear, Hayat led her husband and children to take a chance at safety, crossing the border to seek refuge in Türkiye, leaving behind her extended family and support structures.

When the family arrived, they managed to secure a small home. However, after a devastating earthquake struck Türkiye in February 2023, they had to move to a displacement camp in Gaziantep.

Determined to establish a sense of normalcy for her children and to have them continue their education, Hayat enrolled her children in school, but soon she began noticing that they were reluctant to attend. After a heart-to-heart, she discovered they were experiencing bullying from their peers.

Reaching out to the World Vision team leading the Australian Humanitarian Partnership (AHP) response to the Türkiye earthquake, Hayat’s children were able to access support through caring staff at local partner Mavi Hilal Vakfı -- International Blue Crescent Relief.

But while doing everything she could to help her children, a secret turmoil lurked within Hayat’s own home.

Behind closed doors

Behind closed doors, Hayat was confronting a tornado of abuse every day. Every morning, Hayat did not know who she would wake up to: a loving husband or a violent shadow of the man he once was.

Hayat was slowly losing herself, using all her energy to survive, hide, and protect her children, only for the cycle to repeat again the next day.

She wanted to seek support, but her tongue was tied with fear.

But one day, she felt a surge of power she had never experienced before. When dropping her children off at the response centre, she was ready to talk.

Reaching breaking point

The abuse had begun on 6 February 2023, the same day as the earthquake.

The earthquake didn’t only destroy homes, it pushed some people, including refugees already facing extreme vulnerability, to their breaking point.

Instead of talking to his wife about the challenges of living in a displacement camp, and finding solutions together, Hayat’s husband began verbally degrading and humiliating her. This soon turned into physical violence.

With every act of violence, something in Hayat broke until she no longer felt any connection with her husband. She wanted to escape, but the social stigma against divorced woman seemed too horrific to endure, so she stayed silent.

But the situation became unbearable.

Her husband married a second wife, without consulting her. This news broke Hayat, adding salt to the wound.

She felt she had nothing left. So, she marched to the centre and began telling her story.

Seeking help

After first telling her story, Hayat was hesitant and did not accept any type of support, as she did not know what she wanted.

But World Vision’s response partner provided her necessary information and guidance. She met with lawyers for more details on her options, and her rights. She was walked through the separation process, child custody, protection services and other support mechanisms available to her.

Simultaneously, her husband was being questioned regarding a separate incident, which encouraged Hayat to separate from him.

Hayat is not alone: she is surrounded by a skilled team of lawyers and support staff who are guiding her through the next steps, in the hope of bringing her the peace she deserves.

“I was feeling weak and hopeless, and the support I received here made me more resilient. I went through very difficult processes, but now I have the strength to fight,” Hayat said.

“I would like to express my sincere thanks to everyone who supported me. Unity is the greatest strength in life. Thanks to you, I no longer feel alone.”

Case management, improved access to services for survivors of family and gender-based violence, and emergency case funds were funded through the AHP earthquake response in Türkiye, with the support of the Australian Government.

 * Name changed