The tragic story of Jeannah “Dina” Danys Dinabongho Ibouanga shocked Turkey and Gabon. The trial which opens in Karabük highlights the gray areas surrounding the death of this young 17-year-old Gabonese student. Initially presented as a suicide, the case ultimately led to the arrest of a 55-year-old man, the sole accused in this case.
The video surveillance images brought new disturbing elements. We can see Dina leaving her vehicle and jumping over a fence before disappearing near the river where her body was found. The suspect, for his part, spent seven minutes at the water’s edge before leaving the scene. A series of questions remains unanswered, fueling the dismay of Dina’s father, Guy Serge Ibouanga.
This drama had an international impact, highlighting the security problems that foreign students can face in Turkey. Dina’s family claims that the young girl was the victim of harassment, sexual messages and racist behavior. Unfortunately, these elements were not taken into account in the indictment, which leaves a feeling of frustration and injustice.
Despite the surveillance cameras scattered throughout the city, the testimonies of certain individuals claiming to have seen Dina being chased are not sufficiently taken into consideration. The victim’s mother, Jessica Sandra Makemba Panga, insists that the culprits must be identified and that the motive for the crime must not be hidden. She expects concrete answers from this trial that will shed light on the true motivations for this murder.
The current trial charges deliberate murder and attempted sexual abuse, serious crimes that carry heavy penalties. But for Dina’s family, that’s not enough. They demand that justice be served, not only for Dina, but also for all victims of violence and discrimination in Turkey.
This trial is an opportunity to highlight the flaws in the system of protection of foreign students in Turkey and to raise public awareness of these issues. It is essential to guarantee the safety and well-being of international students, who come to seek quality education in this country.
The Dina affair is a sad reality which reminds us that the fight against violence against women and against racism is still ongoing. Let us hope that this trial will advance justice and prevent such tragedies from happening again in the future.