Executive of the Kuran’a Hizmet Foundation who sexually abused his 4-year-old daughter to face judge

Hazal Güven - 12punto.com.tr

An executive of the Kuran’a Hizmet Foundation, known for its proximity to the government, will appear before a judge on Wednesday, May 14, on charges of sexually abusing his 4-year-old daughter. The actions of the abusive father, who is being tried without arrest despite the child's testimony and a doctor's report, against both the child and the mother are chilling.

HE SEXUALLY ASSAULTED THE MOTHER

The Kuran’a Hizmet Foundation executive first sexually abused the mother of the child in question in 2017. Following the incident at the foundation, the abuser continued to commit sexual assault systematically. The victimized woman, who eventually told her family about the situation, did not receive the necessary support from them and was forced to marry her abuser.

‘WILL YOU PROTECT ME FROM MY FATHER?’

The Kuran’a Hizmet Foundation executive also subjected the daughter born from this marriage in 2019 to sexual abuse. The incident, which came to light in 2023 when the child told her mother, was brought to the judiciary with both the child's testimony and a doctor's report.

The child's statements were included in the epicrisis reports prepared by child psychiatry in hospital records. The statements the child gave to the doctor were truly a cry for help:

“I am afraid of my father. Will you protect me from him?"

LEGAL PROCESS STALLED

The process has been painful since the investigation stage. In the first phase of the long-running trial, a decision of non-prosecution was issued despite the child's testimony and the doctor's report. The opposing party claimed that the mother was making slanderous accusations simply because she wanted a divorce.

Lawyer Serenay Yaman from the Association of Children and Women First undertook the representation of the victimized child. Stating that the court reversed its own decision and heard the child in the courtroom despite it being very clear that it would cause harm, lawyer Yaman continued as follows:

"Together with my lawyer colleagues, we went to the court clerk's office before the hearing and asked, 'We have the child ready right now. Is the forensic interview room ready?' The clerk told us, 'The presiding judge will hear the child in the courtroom.' We were surprised and could not make sense of this when we heard it. We wanted to meet with the presiding judge to convey our objections regarding this. However, when we headed to the presiding judge's office, another gentleman, whom we learned was his personal bodyguard, came and said, 'The presiding judge will not meet with lawyers before the hearing,' and we were never able to reach the presiding judge.

Afterwards, we began to express our demands through the court clerk. We said that we would not bring the child to the courtroom given her age. These demands of ours did not receive a positive response."

HE WALKED AWAY FREELY

Ultimately, a trial in accordance with law and justice was not conducted, and the defendant was not arrested. The child's testimony and the epicrisis reports prepared by child psychiatry in hospital records were not sufficient.

Lawyer Yaman continued her words as follows:

"In abuse cases, psychological symptoms are of course important evidence for us. That is, there is an opinion letter prepared by a specialist doctor. There is a history of abuse of the child. The child has been diagnosed with social anxiety, and a child of this age has to use heavy medication right now."

Making a call, lawyer Yaman said:

“We remind once again that the state is obligated to ensure the child's safety, protect their rights, and uphold their best interests. The child's detailed and sincere statements in the file must be given credence, and the best interests of the child must be upheld. Many crimes are committed in the darkness of these structures, and they are covered up in one way or another.”