Men have begun to post pictures of themselves in miniskirts to protest against the horrific murder of a woman who allegedly fought off an attempt to rape her.

The body of Ozgecan Aslan, 20, was found burned in a river creek in the southern Turkish city of Mersin on February 13. The psychology student was travelling home on a minibus when she was stabbed and beaten with an iron bar, after allegedly using a pepper spray to fight off a man who was trying to rape her, local media reports said.

Her death has triggered widespread anger across Turkey, and men in neighbouring Azerbaijan have now joined the protests by posting "miniskirt selfies" with the hashtag #ozgecanicinminietekgiy, which translates as "wear a miniskirt for Ozgecan".

Yegane Ayhan @YeganeAyhan Follow Azerbaycan: Erkeklerden taciz ve tecavüze kar?? itiraz olarak #ozgecanicinminietekgiy kampanyas?. Bravo size çocuklar http://t.co/dAznrhDSh6

A Facebook comment explained the campaign group's motivation: "If a miniskirt is responsible for everything, if wearing a miniskirt means immorality and unchastity, if a woman who wears a miniskirt is sending an invitation about what will happen to her, then we are also sending an invitation!”

A woman holds a picture of Ozgecan Arslan during a protest. Credit: Reuters

As well as holding protests across Turkey, thousands of women have begun using the hashtag #sendeanlat - which translates as "tell your story" - to share their experiences of harrassment.

OutForBeyond @OutForBeyond Follow "I have two pocket knives and a pepper spray in my bad. For a 10-minute walk, I go equipped like Tomb Raider." #tellyourstory #sendeanlat