“Dying to Divorce” - Document Screening & Discussion

We are pleased to invite you to a screening of the award-winning documentary Dying to Divorce, which explores the work of feminist lawyers and activists fighting gender-based violence in Turkey. The screening will take place on Sunday, 14 June 2026, at 18:00 at aquarium (Kreuzberg) and will be followed by a panel discussion.

Speakers

  • Zarah Baur (Lawyer)

  • İpek Bozkurt (Lawyer - We Will Stop Femicide Platform)

  • Dr. Anke Clodius (Judge at the Higher Regional Court of Celle)

Moderator

  • Gülçin Balamir Coşkun (Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin)

Following the discussion, participants are warmly invited to continue the conversation over snacks and drinks.

This event is organized by the research project Judiciary and Democracy: Unravelling Present Challenges, Activating Future Potentials funded by VolkswagenStiftung.

About the Film

Filmed over five years, Dying to Divorce takes viewers into the heart of Turkey’s gender-based violence crisis and the political developments that have undermined democratic freedoms. Through deeply personal stories, the documentary offers a powerful perspective on the challenges of being an independent woman in contemporary Turkey.

More than one in three women in Turkey has experienced domestic violence, while the number of femicides continues to rise. Against this backdrop, lawyer İpek Bozkurt works tirelessly to challenge impunity and hold perpetrators accountable. Together with a network of activists, she seeks justice for two survivors of brutal violence: Arzu, who was married at the age of fourteen, and Kübra, a successful television presenter.

As İpek confronts a biased legal system, she must also navigate an increasingly repressive political environment. Following the attempted coup in 2016, widespread crackdowns on dissent have left many lawyers and activists facing the threat of persecution and imprisonment.

Content Warning

Please note that the film focuses on femicide and gender-based violence. It contains depictions and discussions of murder, physical violence, and emotional abuse against women. Those who prefer not to attend the screening are welcome to join the panel discussion and reception afterwards (starting at approximately 19:30).

Language: Turkish and English (with English subtitles)
Duration: 80 minutes