Savaş Öncesi Dönemde, Yerinden Edilme Sürecinde ve Türkiye’ye Sığınma Dönemlerinde Suriyeli Sığınmacı Kadınların Yakın Partner Şiddeti Deneyimleri

Year 2025, Volume: 5 Issue: 2, 104 - 123, 23.09.2025

Mawahib Khalil M Hassan

https://doi.org/10.52241/tjds.1628331

Abstract

Syrian Refugee Women’s Experiences with Intimate Partner Violence During Pre-War, Displacement, and Asylum Period in Türkiye

Abstract

This study explores the experiences of Syrian refugee women with intimate partner violence (IPV) across three distinct periods: pre-war, post-war (beginning in 2011), and asylum in Turkey. Using a descriptive qualitative approach, data were collected through in-depth semi-structured interviews with 20 Syrian refugee women residing in Ankara. Thematic analysis, conducted using MAXQDA software, revealed that IPV occurred in varying forms across all three periods. However, the pre-war period emerged as the time when women experienced the highest levels of violence. This prevalence is attributed to deeply rooted patriarchal structures, unequal power dynamics between men and women, and sociocultural norms that perpetuate violence. The findings highlight the persistent influence of gendered power imbalances and cultural traditions in shaping women's vulnerability to IPV, even in the context of forced migration. These insights contribute to a deeper understanding of IPV among refugee populations and underscore the need for targeted interventions to address the unique challenges faced by Syrian refugee women.

Keywords

Intimate Partner Violence , Syrian Refugee Women , Patriarchy

References

• Al Ajlan, A. (2022). Divorce and domestic violence among Syrian refugees in Germany. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, Vol. 37 (11-12), NP9784 –NP9810.
• Al-Modallal, H., Abu Zayed, S., Abujilban, S., Shehab, T., & Atoum, T. (2015). Prevalence of intimate partner violence among women visiting health care centers in Palestine refugee camps in Jordan. Health Care for Women International, 36 (2), 137–148.
• Al-Natour, A., Mohammed, S., & Morris, J. (2019). Marital violence during war conflict: The lived experience of Syrian women. Journal of Transcultural Nursing, 30 (1), 32–38.
• Al-Shdayfat, N., & Hatamleh, R. (2017). Syrian refugee women’s reasons for not reporting violence: An exploratory study. International Journal of Nursing Education, 9 (4), 96-100.
• Bograd, M. (1999). Strengthening domestic violence theories: Intersections of race, class, sexual orientation, and gender. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 25 (3), 275–289.
• Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2006). Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3 (2), 77–101.
• Campbell, R., & Wasco, S. M. (2000). Feminist approaches to social science: Epistemological and methodological tenets. American Journal of Community Psychology, 28 (6), 773–791.
• Cankurtaran, Ö., & Albayrak, H. (2019). From Syria to Turkey: Being a woman. Hacettepe University Research and Implementation Center on Women’s Issues.
• El-Moslemany, R., Mellon, L., Tully, L., & McConkey, S. J. (2020). Factors associated with intimate partner violence perpetration and victimization in asylum seeking and refugee populations: A systematic review. Trauma, Violence, & Abuse, 23 (3), 827–839.
• Freedman, J. (2016). Sexual and gender-based violence against refugee women: A hidden aspect of the refugee “crisis”. Reproductive Health Matters, 24 (47), 18–26.
• Gray, M., et al. (2015). Doctoral research from a feminist perspective: Acknowledging, advancing and aligning women’s experience. Qualitative Social Work, 14 (6), 758–775.
• Hacettepe University Institute of Population Studies (NEE). (2019). 2018 Demographic and Health Survey, Retrieved from Hacettepe University Institute of Population Studies, https://hips.hacet�- tepe.edu.tr/tr/2018_tnsa_analiz_ve_rapor-56
• Haj-Yahia, M. M. (1998). Beliefs about wife beating among Palestinian women: The influence of their patriarchal ideology. Violence Against Women, 4 (5), 533–558.
• Haj-Yahia, M. M. (2005). On the characteristics of patriarchal societies, gender inequality, and wife abuse: The case of Palestinian society. Adalah’s Newsletter, Volume 20, November 2005.
• Hindin, M. J. (2003). Understanding women’s attitudes towards wife beating in Zimbabwe. Bulletin of the World Health Organization, 81 (7), 501–508.
• Holt, M. C. (2013). Violence against women in the context of war: Experiences of Shi’i women and Palestinian refugee women in Lebanon. Violence Against Women, 19 (3), 316-337.
• Mendis, K. (2009). Collecting data from mothers who have experienced childhood family violence with the use of a feminist methodology. Qualitative Social Work, 8 (3), 377–390.
• Moshtagh, M., Amiri, R., Sharafi, S., & Arab-Zozani, M. (2023). Intimate partner violence in the Middle East region: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Trauma, Violence, & Abuse, 24 (2), 613–631.
• Mousa, D. ( قانون العقوبات السوري والمرأة .( 2016 Syrian Penal Code and Women]. Rising for Freedom Mag� azine ( طلعنا عالحرية ). https://www.freedomraise.net
• Mousa, D. ( قوانين الأحوال الشخصية في سوريا .( 2018 [Personal status laws in Syria] (Policy brief ). 20 Mawahib K. M. Hassan
• Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung. https://library.fes.de/pdf-files/bueros/beirut/14968.pdf
• UNHCR. (2006). Master Glossary of Terms. United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. https://www.refworld.org/docid/42ce7d444.html
• UNHCR. (n.d.). Refugees and asylum seekers in Türkiye, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Türkiye. https://www.unhcr.org/tr/
• Syrians for Truth and Justice. (2021). How is violence against women enshrined in Syrian laws and society? https://stj-sy.org/en/how-is-violence-against-women-enshrined-in-syrian-laws-and-society/ [ Syria News. (2019, February النص الكامل لقانون تعديل بعض مواد قانون الأحوال الشخصية .( 10 The Full
• Text of the Law Amending Certain Articles of the Personal Status Law]. https://syria.news/3af08113-10021912.html
• Walker, L. (1979). The Battered Woman. Harper & Row.
• WHO (World Health Organization). (2018). Violence against women: Intimate partner and sexual violence against women. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/violence-against- women
• WHO. (2013). Global and regional estimates of violence against women: Prevalence and health effects of intimate partner violence and non-partner sexual violence. World Health Organization. https://iris.who.int/handle/10665/85239
• WHO. (2012). Understanding and addressing violence against women: Intimate partner violence (WHO/RHR/12.36). https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/WHO-RHR-12.35
• WHO. (2005). WHO multi-country study on women’s health and domestic violence against women: Initial results on prevalence, health outcomes, and women’s responses.
• WHO. (2002). Putting women first: Ethical and safety recommendations for research on domestic violence against women. https://www.who.int/gender/violence/womenfirsteng.pdf
• WHO. (n.d.). Intimate partner violence. https://apps.who.int/violence-info/intimate-partner-violence/ Zaman Al Wasal. (2010). A third of Syrian women are subjected to domestic violence: Search for “masculine culture.” https://www.zamanalwsl.net/news/article/16576