Turkish Girl, 16, Buried Alive for Talking to Boys

By: David Morgan
Topics: In The News

(CBS/AP)

A 16-year-old girl was buried alive as punishment for talking to boys, police said after recovering her body from a six-foot hole dug outside her home in the southeastern province of Adiyaman, Turkey.

Relatives of the girl, identified as "MM," carried out an "honor killing," reports The Guardian.

Police discovered the girl's remains — in a sitting position, her hands tied — under a chicken pen.

The Turkish paper Hurriyet reported on its Web site that police were tipped off by an informant.

The girl's father and grandfather were reportedly arrested, but it is unclear if they have been charged. The girl's mother was also arrested but later released.

The Guardian's Robert Tait writes that, according to local media reports, a postmortem exam showed soil in the girl's stomach and lungs.

The father had told relatives he was unhappy that his daughter had male friends, Tait writes.

Official figures indicate that approximately half of all murders in Turkey are "honor killings." More than 200 such murders take place each year.

For more:
Turkish Girl, 16, Buried Alive for Talking to Boys (Guardian, 2.4.10)

David Morgan
David Morgan is a senior editor at CBSNews.com and cbssundaymorning.com.

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by traci_madison February 9, 2010 3:38 AM EST: So sad that men's deep insecurities lead them to use threats and force to dominate and control women. This Turkish girl's father & grandfather are weaklings to believe that their daughter's innocent behavior shames their reputation. Guess they don't think their reputations are very strong -- but willing to kill your own child??

Sick and twisted.; Reply to this comment


by stefaniefulgham February 7, 2010 7:33 PM EST: Ms Enza,
It's idiots like you who keep perpetuating racism in this country. Maybe you could go visit Turkey and talk to some boys...Let's see what you have to say sitting in your hole.; Reply to this comment

by shimonn February 7, 2010 7:17 PM EST

Now first I have to say this is among the worst evils in the world (killing anyone the younger the worse it gets)

Now I have to comment on comments for One about religion and evolution.. first of all evolution hasnt been proven it is a highly accepted thing but it has not been proven... also religion and evolution do not require the other to be false to be true both can coexist because no religious text ever says, "God created humans and they stayed static and unchanging and forever will be the same" or anything of the like

As for honor killings being cowardly not all evil is cowardly and it is important for people to realise the two terms are unconnected it roots itself to days when it was public and unhidden and sure they do it in secret but if you broke the law you'd keep it secret too... it is still evil though

Reply to this comment


by Ratmann1 February 7, 2010 8:16 PM EST: #1. As Far as I am concerned, Evolution has been proven, even moreso with the technology we have today.

#2. The Bible (a religious txt) does indeed state the God Created ADAM (A homosapien Man/ Human) portrayed as walking upright with self consciousness, with desire to learn and ability to understand and follow instruction. Then the bible continues to teach how eve was CREATED from ADAM and the populated the planet.

I gaurentee that the is no text in any religious documentation that approves of, Condones or Encourages so called "Honor Killings" A.K.A. "MURDER"

It is Wrong, they are ignorant to the laws of Nature and Humanity, and that is all there is be said about it. Thats My Opinion, sorry if you can't look at it from the outside and consider the possible truths to it as well as the possible falscities.


by stefaniefulgham February 7, 2010 7:13 PM EST: dragonsdale. You sound pretty ignorant yourself. Just because a culture believes in "Honor Killing", doesn't justify it. As for the comment about my God, he's your God too. Whether you believe in Him or not doesn't make Him non-existant. He's there, you just have to stop being so closed minded.; Reply to this comment


by debi7852 February 7, 2010 5:56 PM EST: We need to flat out SEVER ALL TIES with Turkry,until it shows they know how tf to act!!!!; Reply to this comment


by TL1964 February 7, 2010 2:42 PM EST: While everyone is talking about the treatment of women and children in the middle eastern countries, it seems we have conveniently forgotten about how our own women and children were once treated. Chilren were considered as property and could be whipped and beaten because their parents "owned" them. It was once acceptable for a husband to "punish" his wife physically as long as he didn't use a stick larger than the circumfrence of his thumb. Authorities did not begin searching for a missing child for at least 24 hours and the parents were the last ones suspected of foul play. And let's not forget how most of the slaves were treated. I'm not saying I accept their forms of retribution, I don't by any means. I'm simply saying that instead of casting judgement on a culture that has existed for thousands of years and accepted by millions of their citizens, we should be hoping they are able to one day view their present actions as we now, thankfully, view our past. Evolution is a slow process and until their citizens stand up agains these abhorent and unacceptable actions, it will unfortunately continue as their status quo.; Reply to this comment


by TRYSANITY February 7, 2010 2:30 PM EST: No matter what your culture this is Murder! This girl was murdered by her own family for doing what 16 year old girls do. She wasnt doing drugs ,she wasnt having sex, she didnt join a gang, She merely spoke to some boys. The world is showing less tolerence for this kind of sadistic tradition every year. If you are blogging to defend this horrific CRIME then just know that we are growing less tolerent of you as well.; Reply to this comment


by jls3769 February 7, 2010 2:11 PM EST: And these honor killers are TOTAL COWARDS!!!!!

FULL TOTAL COWARDS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If they have take offense to that. I am willing to go 1-on-1.

I AM A REAL MAN. AND THEY ARE NOT!!!!; Reply to this comment

by Ratmann1 February 7, 2010 2:08 PM EST

OK - here is my 2 cents worth. I have read many of the comments, seeing argument based upon religion and cultures and beliefs. Is thert not a basic set of Morals to be followed here. I mean come on now. As much as I know this comment might **** people off. Regarding all religions in all cultures; The words you follow for religious beliefs and cultures were WRITTEN BY MAN, after being TRANSLATED BY MAN & INTERPRETED BY MAN AND THEN RE-WORDED BY MAN for ease of understanding by stupid or ignorant man. over the last 2000 years don't you think that it has been screwed up enough by man that Religion has already proved itself to be a means of controlling poeple by mean's of mans fear of God(s) which in my belief; are just another Prop in religions overal attempt to control man. It is scientifically proven that Life on this planet has undergone what is called EVOLUTION!!!. Not saying that there isnt some all powerful force in the cosmos, maybe our planet was seeded with the Amino Acids & protiens which combined in the oceans billons of years ago that created life on earth. Get real in every culture I would hope that there is some sort of Basic & humane set of morals to be followed. even if it boiled down to "an eye for an eye & tooth for a tooth" whats wrong is wrong, and continuing to do it will not make it right. *** - honor Killing my rear end!!. There is no honor in killing period. additionally, What lesson is learned? the young inoccent girl is dead. so isnt it obvious that she didnt learn a lesson at all - just lost her life due to ignorance and stupidity. And her death benefits whom how?? that what I thought!! Just my two cents worth and opinion You may not agree with it but I have the right to it and to voice it as well.

Please try to have a good day and be good to others! What goes around eventually comes back around one way or another. Do you believe in good Karma??

Reply to this comment


by caramel23 February 16, 2010 8:24 AM EST: I agree that organized religion causes all a lot of the inequity and hatred in the world in how its practiced.

But, i think the simple fact is that we're never going to live in a world without religion. It may be the "opium of the masses," it may be sentimental attachment, it may be cultural or nationalistic identity, it may be sincere spiritual attachment.

Regardless, it's not going to go away. The amount of people who can or will be educated out of religion is slim.

So you deal with what you got. In order to fix inequities and murders in religious societies, you show religion to be on the side of the law and the side of the good, and ostracize/incarcerate the criminals and the murderers.

All I'm saying is that religion might seem to be a waste of time and pure hokey pokey to some, but it can't be wished away. It's always going to be there, and to improve societies that place some value in religion, you have to be pragmatic and navigate around religion and with the good of religion in order to make a difference and improve and better fractured communities and in some cases medieval backwards incidents that occur in societies.

by jls3769 February 7, 2010 2:08 PM EST

The entire mideast has a poor human rights network. The tipster will have to live with that secret. What if the tipster's family find out that he ratted out and that family has that culture, he will be marked as a "collaborator". That family will go to every means necessary to retain that honor. Even if it means killing witnesses.

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by Ratmann1 February 7, 2010 2:19 PM EST: if retaining their Honor leads to killing to cover up or hide a truth, then the odds are that there is no honor in that truth to begin with. Doesnt that sum up to trying to save face or maintain a reputation of sorts after doing something bad that you dont want anyone to know about? Think about it...