Sometimes a woman is subjected to sexual violence in the presence of her husband or family members, apparently as a means of forcing her husband or family member to "confess", or in a cynical utilization of the concept of "honour", as a way of demeaning her family and her community.

In interviews with over 100 female prisoners in Diyarbakir, Mus, Mardin, Batman and Midyat, the Diyarbakir Bar Women's Commission established that nearly all of the women had been subjected to "virginity testing", and nearly all had experienced some form of sexual abuse, either verbal or physical, whilst in police custody.

"Rape and sexual assault are compounded by the authorities' failure to provide redress and protection," Amnesty International said.

Women surviving sexual violence often have their experiences compounded by being ostracized. Other women have been forced to flee their homes, with or without their families. Many women often do not disclose sexual assault because they believe that reporting it will not result in the perpetrators being punished.

In fact, women who speak out against sexual violence by agents of the state are at risk of further abuse. Women who have spoken out about their ordeal have been subjected to legal action, threats and imprisonment. Lawyers representing women who have been sexually assaulted in custody have in turn been subjected to official, media and peer persecution.