Suspects accused of raping a 14-year-old girl arrested 2 years later — here's how it happened

The incident took place in the heart of Ankara.

In May 2024, several individuals in their twenties took a 14-year-old girl's mobile phone and metro card and held her captive for 6 days. That was not all — two of the individuals sexually abused the child.

During that period, the father went to a police station and reported that his daughter had gone missing. Six days later, when he learned she had been sent to a state shelter and went to collect her, the child told him what had happened to her.

Reports were immediately obtained and a criminal complaint was filed.

However, the suspects were only detained — for a single day — a full year later, before being released.

The indictment was not prepared until a full 1.5 years after the incident.

While the suspects, who were sought to be tried for "deprivation of liberty through force, threat or deception, aggravated sexual abuse of a child, and aggravated robbery," walked free, the girl attempted suicide several times.

The desperate father reached out to the International Human Rights and Children's Rights Association, founded by a group of young lawyers, saying, "We couldn't get support from anyone — the perpetrators are out on the streets," and asked for help.

Before the first hearing, the association publicized the case on social media and called out, "We would be glad if you stood by our girl," while Fatma Melike Karaaslan and Hilal Çelik voluntarily took on the family's legal representation.

"Due to the Case Being Shared on Social Media"

At the first session of the trial held the day before yesterday at Ankara 25th Heavy Criminal Court, three of the defendants took their places in the courtroom while one was connected via SEGBİS.

The victim child and a pedagogue were made available from the forensic interview room via SEGBİS at the hearing, which was also attended by the child's family, the parties' lawyers, and a lawyer from the Ministry of Family and Social Policies.

After the defendants and their lawyers presented their defenses, the victim child recounted what had happened to her... The pedagogue's statements were taken... The family and the Ministry's lawyer, declaring they were complainants, requested to join the case as intervening parties... Fatma Melike Karaaslan and Hilal Çelik, who took on the legal representation of the victim child, requested that the defendants be arrested so that no further pressure would be placed on the child.

At the end of the hearing, the Prosecutor delivered his opinion and, after listing the information and documents he requested be brought to the file — such as HTS/base station records and reports concerning the child — stated his view that the defendants should be arrested, citing the following grounds: that "the defendants' defenses are contrary to the ordinary course of life, the age of the victim and the number of defendants, the manner in which the events unfolded and the duration of time involved, the fact that aggravated sexual abuse of a child and aggravated robbery are catalogue offences, and that judicial supervision measures would be insufficient," as well as this notable additional ground:

"Given that the incident was shared on social media shortly before the hearing date, there is a strong likelihood that the defendants may attempt to exert pressure on the victim..."

And the outcome?

Nearly 2 years after the incident, the Court ruled that two of the defendants be arrested, while the other two were placed under judicial supervision in the form of a travel ban and a prohibition from approaching within more than 200 metres of the victim's home and school.

Naturally, Fatma Melike Karaaslan, one of the child's lawyers who was overjoyed by the ruling, said after the hearing, "Your support even made it into the hearing minutes. Keep up the support — let's save the lives of more children." Meanwhile, Bilgen Kömüş, President of the International Human Rights and Children's Rights Association, said the outcome was the power of the public.

Yet another striking example of the state of our justice system!..

Müyesser YILDIZ

14 March 2026