ANKARA
The U.S. Embassy in Ankara has condemned the killing of a young Turkish woman, who was the victim of a brutal murder Friday.
"We wish to express our deepest sorrow over the murder of Ozgecan Aslan. We strongly condemn this heinous crime and all acts of violence against women around the world," the U.S. Embassy said via its official Twitter account.
Ozgecan Aslan, 20, was killed and her body was burnt after reportedly resisting a sexual assault attempt in Turkey's southern province of Mersin on Friday.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Monday he would personally follow the case, pledging that "the perpetrators will face the most severe penalties."
Erdogan said violence against women is "a bleeding wound" of Turkey, and he hoped that Aslan's murder would pave the way for development of measures to prevent discrimination and violence against women.
Two of Erdogan's daughters paid a visit Sunday to the family of the slain woman.
Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu has promised to fight violence against women, and said his government is reviewing current legislation to draft a broader action plan.
He also said the government was planning a mass mobilization of Turkish people to raise awareness about the issue.
Hundreds of people, especially women's rights activists, gathered across Turkey on Saturday and Sunday to protest the murder.
Many people have also changed their profile pictures on social media to black.
The death of Aslan has also reignited discussions on the death penalty in Turkey, which was abolished in 2004 to be replaced with aggravated life imprisonment.
Turkey’s Social Policy Minister Aysenur Islam suggested punishing this kind of crime with a death sentence “[speaking] not as a minister but as a mother and woman."
"Personal feelings and the reactions of a state should be separate," Turkey's EU Minister Volkan Bozkir said and added that states must act within the framework of justice towards everyone.
Three suspects were arrested on early Monday in connection with the killing.
