Turkish Court‍ Announces Verdicts ‌in Shocking Child Abuse Case

A Turkish ​court has announced its verdicts in the high-profile case of child abuse involving the İsmailağa⁢ religious community.

The case centered around the sexual abuse of a young girl, HKG, ‍who was “married” to Kadir İsekli in a religious ceremony at the age of six. The ⁤abuse occurred at the Hiranur‍ Institute, which is‌ connected to the⁢ İsmailağa community.

İsekli was sentenced to 21 years in prison for sexual abuse and 15 years for serial sexual assault. The leader of the organization, Yusuf Ziya Gümüşel, ‌was sentenced to 18 years and​ 9 months for accessory to sexual abuse.

The court also ruled to separate HKG’s mother’s ​file and ordered her arrest.⁤ The hearing was closed to the press, but the⁣ Left Feminist ⁢Movement held a press release outside the court.

Reaction from the Left Feminist Movement

Seval Keleş, speaking on behalf of the ⁣Left Feminist Movement, expressed outrage at the prevalence of child abuse and femicides in Turkey. “We wake up to the news of femicides and ⁢child⁢ abuse every day,” Keleş said.

Keleş ‍emphasized that the İsmailağa community had created a “hell” ​for women and children, and that HKG’s case was just one example of the systematic abuse that⁢ occurs within these communities.

“We ‍have become part of HKG’s struggle,” Keleş said. “Her struggle is the struggle of all‍ the‍ children and women whose lives have been stolen. It’s a struggle for all ⁣of us.”

Background⁣ of the Case

The scandal came to light when HKG, now 24 and divorced, filed a criminal complaint against her parents. She alleged that her father and mother had “married her off” to ⁣İsekli at the age of six, and that she⁤ had ⁣been subjected to sexual ⁤abuse throughout her childhood.

A parliamentary research commission investigated why HKG’s absence from primary school had not been detected by authorities.⁤ In Turkey, all children are required to attend school from the age‍ of ⁢six, and parents⁤ who fail to register their children can ⁤face fines.

Previous Ruling Overturned

The decision ⁣hearing of the case was initially ‍held on October‍ 23, 2023, where the court ⁣sentenced İsekli to 30 years, Gümüşel’s father to 20 years, ⁤and Gümüşel’s mother to 16 years and 8 months in prison. However, the 20th Criminal Chamber of the Istanbul Regional Court of Justice overturned the decision, stating that ‌the sentence given to ‍the defendants should be increased, and requested a second trial.