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Harsh words from lawyer in Hiranur Foundation child abuse case: 'A hero who stood up to the sect'

The trial regarding the sexual abuse of a 6-year-old child at the Hiranur Foundation has been adjourned until September 23. Speaking after the hearing, lawyer Pınar Akbina made sharp remarks.

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No verdict was reached in today's hearing of the case concerning the sexual abuse of H.K.G., the daughter of Yusuf Ziya Gümüşel, founder of the Hiranur Foundation linked to the İsmailağa sect, who was "married off via imam marriage" at the age of six to Kadir İstekli.

The abuse trial has been adjourned until September 23.

"A HERO WHO STOOD UP TO THE SECT"

Following the hearing, lawyer Pınar Akbina held a press conference.

Drawing attention to the importance of secularism, lawyer Akbina stated:

"This case is also a case that reveals how important secularism is for women and for children. Our daughter H.K.G. is a hero who stood up to the sect, the foundation, and the AKP-ites. There are many others like her. But unfortunately, most of them do not come to light."

WHAT HAD HAPPENED?

Journalist Timur Soykan had exposed the scandal on December 3.

Following the news, an investigation was launched into the incident by the Anatolian Chief Public Prosecutor's Office. In the 6th hearing of the case, for which a publication ban had been issued, the new lawyer who replaced the lawyer of Kadir İstekli—who had withdrawn from the file—requested additional time to prepare a defense regarding the prosecutor's opinion and the merits of the case, and the hearing was adjourned for two weeks. In the case, Kadir İstekli was tried on charges of "sexual abuse and sexual assault" with a requested prison sentence of up to 67 years, 10 months, and 15 days. For father Yusuf Ziya Gümüşel and mother Fatıma Gümüşel, a sentence of up to 22 years and 6 months was requested for the crime of "chain-linked child sexual abuse."

On October 23, 2023, the court decided to sentence defendant Kadir İstekli to 30 years, Yusuf Ziya Gümüşel to 20 years, and Fatıma Gümüşel to 16 years and 8 months in prison.

Following the verdict, the lawyer for the victim H.K.G., the defendants' lawyer, the lawyer for the Ministry of Family and Social Services, and the public prosecutor appealed the file. The 20th Penal Chamber of the Istanbul Regional Court of Justice, which reviewed the file, evaluated that while two separate sentences should have been given to defendant Kadir İstekli for 'Qualified sexual abuse of a child' for the years 2004-2013 and 'Qualified sexual assault against a spouse' for the year 2020, he was sentenced for only a single crime.

Regarding the prison sentences given to the victim H.K.G.'s mother Fatıma Gümüşel and father Yusuf Ziya Gümüşel, the court stated that an increase should have been applied according to the law because they were the parents, and decided to overturn the verdict on both procedural and substantive grounds.