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In Turkish, what a tragedy:
http://www.yeniasir.com.tr/ya2008/04/13/index.php3?kat=dis&sayfa=dis1&bolum=gunluk

http://w9.gazetevatan.com/haberdetay.asp?detay=GELIN_YOLCULUGU_mezarda_son_buldu_172605_1&Newsid=172605

I'm really sorry for her [*].

I spent a lot of time hitch-hiking when I was in secondary school and never considered it dangerous. Nowadays I'd never get into a car with a stranger. This means of transport is dangerous, not only in Turkey but everywhere else in the world. An artistic statement she tried to make was proven wrong. This world is not a safe place, especially for a woman travelling alone.

I was shocked reading the comments about her clothes. A bridal dress is not really a bikini or other kind of provoking clothes that might have given the man an impression that she was a prostitute (of course, even if she was wearing a bikini it wouldn't have given him the right to do as he did). The dress cannot justify his attack. He's a scum and deserves to die. Besides, a person who rapes and kills would do the same no matter what clothes a woman would be wearing.

really not easy to find true words to tell our sadness about this tragic event,we wish condolence to her family and loved ones

As always I find catwoman's views the most intelligent and balanced. Women often seem to have to take the sole blame and responsibilty for a man's failure to uphold sexual mores. What has happened to Pippa is tragic and of course could have happened anywhere in the world. Many people have called her stupid and misguided for hitch-hiking in the name of peace but I would like to throw a different light on her actions. Let us also consider her a brave, caring and wise young woman. She knew what ails the world and, unlike many of us (including myself), took the time and trouble to try and change people's perceptions about trusting and respecting one another. She did that as only an artist could, in a symbolic and creative way. She believed in the goodness of mankind and wanted people to remember their basic humanity. She was making her demonstration in troubled areas so was no fool to the fact that she may be in danger. She doubtless had her fears. Did Pippa make a diffence? - she certainly has and in a way far greater than she imagined. Nations are mourning her loss and more significantly the murder of the principle she was trying to demonstrate - for people to feel free to love and trust one another. Barr the few maniacs polluting society, we all want to live in peace and harmony. The outrage we collectively feel brings us closer together and reminds us of how we should behave towards one another. Pippa has inspired in me a hope for the future. There are young people out there willing to take risks to get their message across - to try and build a better world. With all my heart I wish she had not had to pay for her ideals with her life - but her death has not been in vain. My sincere condolences go out to her family and friends - their loss is great.

oh my dear angel Pippa...
this is the moment when the world stands still and words fail to express!
a tour for peace in turkey ha? it should have been the last stop of the tour if u were to include it.
didnt anyone tell you such tours and walks for peace usually end in rape and murder in this country?
didnt anyone tell you such innocent activities for peace are the ones most exposed to such brutal attacks!
i m sure u knew all these and that's why u included also turkey...
you will never walk alone! but im afraid not hand in hand with huge crowds from these lands, at least not in near future (such as a thousand years or so..)
you lived for peace, "rest" in "peace"!

Outpouring of grief in wake of rape, murder
Monday, April 14, 2008




The rape and murder of a 33-year-old Italian artist on her way to Israel to spread a message of peace produces deep felt pain and shame in Turkey, with newspapers headlining with expressions of sorrow for the victim’s family and Italy

ISTANBUL – TDN with wire dispatches


The murder of an Italian artist and peace activist who was hitchhiking in Turkey dressed in a wedding gown dominated newspaper headlines and Internet blogs yesterday with messages expressing sorrow and shame.

The body of Giuseppina Pasqualino di Marineo, known as Pippa Bacca, was found Saturday near Tavşanlı village of Gebze region near Istanbul.

Police located Bacca's body after a man who had been detained admitted he raped and murdered the activist. The suspect, who was arrested after he was traced when he used Bacca's cell phone, said he took her in his truck and murdered her. He later directed the police to where he had left her body.

Bacca, 33, had embarked on a journey with her friend Silvia Moro on March 8, hitchhiking from Milan and heading to Israel as a part of their “Brides on Tour” project aimed at pleading for peace in conflict areas.

Bacca arrived in Turkey on March 19 after hitchhiking through Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia and Hungary while wearing a wedding dress of her own design. The two artists separated in Istanbul and planned to meet in Tel Aviv.

However, when she failed to contact her family after March 31, her family requested assistance from the Italian Foreign Ministry. It had been more than 10 days since Bacca called her fiancé Giovanni Chiari. Italian authorities called for Turkish help and the police started an investigation that led to the suspect. The suspect, a father of two, was known as an aggressive and unbalanced person.

Elena Manzoni, Bacca's mother said they were hoping to find her alive until the last moment, the Anatolia news agency reported. She said they were not particularly worried since she had been hitchhiking for a long time, and thus knew how to avoid taking unnecessary risks.

"She was a determined person when it had to do with art,” she said.

Manzoni also said she believed Turks were good people in general and added that “unfortunately that person who took her to his truck was a pervert who decided to kill her and there is nothing to do in such situations.”

Sorrow and pain:

Several Turkish newspapers yesterday expressed deep sorrow after the murder of the Italian artist was made public Saturday.

Daily Milliyet headlined with "Our grief is great" in Italian with letters printed in the colors of the Italian flag against a black background.

The daily Sabah headlined with “Pippa forgive us” both in Turkish and Italian on a black background. “We are ashamed” was the headline of daily Yenişafak. The daily reported that Turkey was ashamed of the accused. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan expressed his sorrow for the murdered artist, before his flight to Qatar yesterday.

“I offer my condolences to her family and to the Italian people. I believe that the justice system will make the necessary judgment,” he said.

“I cannot find any words to describe this vile act,” Erdoğan said, responding to a question on the possible effects of the criminal act on Turkey's image abroad.

“I thank our police force. Arresting the perpetuator in such a short time is important for us. But I particularly thank the victim's sister and her family for their attitude, which takes into account the realities of the world,” Erdoğan said.

The Pasqualino family's statements were especially moving, Erdoğan said.

“It is particularly upsetting that the victim, subjected to such dreadful treatment, carried a message of peace,” he added.

Turkish Daily News

I was reading murat belge's daily column this morning regarding this incident.
He is arguing that this is a single incident and the entire country should not be held account.
But adding: is it really true?
He is saying that if this man's desire is not causing him to rape all the time, what made him what he did when he saw a 'foreigner' and why?
Somehow, when these crimes committed against the 'foreigners', serious chunk of the population think that 'it is not bad'. Becasue it is not done to 'us', it is done to 'foreigners'.

He is giving some examples like killing the priest in trabzon (many people were very proud of the killer), killing of Hrant Dink (he is a hero to many Turks), Mehmet ali agca/ our international assasion/tried to kill pope (he is a hero to too many).
Anyway, murat belge, thinks that it is a result of our nationalism.

Lots of good points were raised here about this issue. I really liked handsom's ideas about foreign women being seen as less worthy then Turkish women. This issue keeps coming up again and again.
One certain thing is that Turkey needs some self reflection. Again, this is not a problem only of Turkey, absolutely not, but there are some very unique issues that Turkey has that really have to change.