A Mesmerizing Outcry Against Femicide and Child Murders

“Ambassadors of Love,” a theater play calling for love, solidarity, and awareness against the murder of women and children, was staged for the first time in Bornova with the support of the Bornova Municipality. In the play, Bornova Mayor Ömer Eşki’s daughter, Asya Tuna, portrayed Narin Güran, who was brutally murdered—creating a powerful and emotional atmosphere that deeply moved the audience. During the post-show talks, women’s organizations and local leaders called for strong social solidarity against violence.

The play, which delivers a strong message against the killing of women and children, met the audience at the Altındağ Atatürk Cultural Center NGO Campus, Yıldız Kenter Stage, with the support and hosting of Bornova Municipality.

Written by Görkem Bıçakçıoğlu and Sercan Eroğlu, and directed by Fatih Ay, the production captivated viewers with its haunting stage design—white-clad women standing in a circle within a mystical setting.

Asya Tuna portrayed Narin Güran

Asya Tuna, the daughter of Bornova Mayor Ömer Eşki, played the role of Narin Güran, whose tragic murder shook the entire country. The play was watched by Mayor Eşki’s wife, Beste Eşki, CHP İzmir Provincial Women’s Branch President Zahide Kurun, CHP Women’s Branch Central Executive Committee Member Rahşan Nazlıoğlu, and İzmir City Council President Özgür Topaç.

Speaking after the performance, Beste Eşki shared her mixed feelings of pride and pain:

“When Asya told me she would portray Narin, I was very excited. She asked me, ‘Who is Narin?’ It was incredibly difficult to explain. No more girls or women should die in this country. We will continue to fight for this until the end.”

The harsh reality of violence brought to the stage

“Ambassadors of Love” centers the stories of murdered women and children in Türkiye, drawing attention to one of society’s deepest wounds.
The stage design—women in white dresses beneath a majestic, sky-reaching tree—symbolized grief, remembrance, and solidarity with striking emotional power.

Movement design: Yeliz Aytimur
Costumes: Hamide Aptulova Ay
Assistant directors: Eray Yoldaş Eroğlu, Ege Yılmaz, Hasan Aydın, Poyraz Büyükün

The cast—Aliye Güneş, Asya Tuna Eşki, Aysenur Ardahan, Barış Yılmaz, Buse Kasapoğlu, Elif Sultansuyu, Elif Yölyürür, Emine Yılmaz, Fatoş Ergezer, Gülşah Sultansuyu, Kamile Gamze Demir, Sabriye Yeşi, Selin Yölyürür, Simge Bayram, and Zeynep Dirik—was met with prolonged standing ovations.

A message from the stage: “This is not just a women’s issue”

During the post-show discussions:

• Zahide Kurun, CHP İzmir Provincial Women’s Branch President, stated:

  “Femicide, violence against women, and child abuse are not just women’s issues; they are national issues. On November 25, we women were out on the streets, but unfortunately the number of men standing with us was almost nonexistent.”

• Rahşan Nazlıoğlu, CHP Women’s Branch MYK Member, added:

  “There is so much to say. How many times we died… how many times we were killed… We are not just numbers. We will keep fighting.”

• Özgür Topaç, İzmir City Council President, offered a candid self-critique:

  “We are all part of the problem. Men must recognize that they are perpetrators of all forms of violence—physical or psychological.”

Bornova Deputy Mayor Cem Arıkan thanked everyone who contributed to the staging of the play.

The power of solidarity and storytelling

“Ambassadors of Love” brought together the voices and stories of women to create a collective outcry that resonated deeply with the audience. Supported by Bornova Municipality, the play delivered a powerful call to action for society to unite against femicide and child murders.