Summary of story from The New York Times, January 18, 2012

The charity Sefkat in Turkey has published a brochure advising women facing violence on how to save their lives – including the suggestion of getting a gun and learning how to use it.

Activists say they have had enough of violence against women which has seen hundreds killed by their partners every year and many of the crimes ignored by the authorities.

“We believe the state should protect these women, but it is no use pretending it does,” said Hayrettin Bulan, director of Sefkat, which operates two women’s shelters.

At least 252 Turkish women died at the hands of their husbands, lovers or male relatives last year, up from 217 the preceding year, according to Bianet, a Web site that is supported in part by the European Union.

The state has not been much help, according to a report last month by a women’s group named “We Will Stop the Killing of Women.”

It said 73 per cent of women who requested police or court protection from abusive husbands between 2008 and 2011 ended up getting killed by those men anyway.

Mr Bulan said the gun recommendation was “strictly a last resort,” but the advice has caused an outcry in the Turkish press.

It has been denounced as “primitive,” “reactionary” and as an incitement to violence.