Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Feb.16 he would personally follow the brutal murder case of a young Turkish female university student, Ozgecan Aslan, in Turkey's southern Mersin province, Anadolu Agency reported.
Addressing an award ceremony organized by Turkish Contractors' Association in capital Ankara, Erdogan assured that "the perpetrators will face the most severe penalties."
Aslan, 20, was killed and her body burnt after reportedly resisting sexual assault in Mersin on Feb.13.
He offered his condolences to the victim's family and said the suspects in the case had been arrested. Two of Erdogan's daughters also paid a visit on Feb.15 to the family of the slain woman.
Turkish citizens, especially women's rights activists, have protested the murder in cities across Turkey.
Erdogan said violence against women is "a bleeding wound" of Turkey.
"I am speaking clearly. Whoever uses violence against women believing that they are poor, incapable, and defenseless is contemptible," he said.
He hoped that Aslan's murder would pave the way for development of measures to prevent discrimination and violence against women.