Precedent-setting ruling from the Court of Cassation: Saying 'Alo' considered grounds for divorce

The 2nd Civil Chamber of the Court of Cassation has issued a ruling that will set a precedent in divorce cases.

In a divorce case heard in Samsun, the court of first instance ruled that, in addition to the spouses having various faulty behaviors toward each other, one party addressing their spouse as "Alo" was also a fault, and decided to grant the divorce.

LAWYERS FOR BOTH PARTIES APPEALED CERTAIN DECISIONS

Lawyers for both parties appealed some of the decisions made in the case and applied to the Regional Court of Justice for appellate review. After the appellate requests were examined and rejected, the case was taken to the Court of Cassation.

As a result of the appeal review, the 2nd Civil Chamber of the Court of Cassation also rejected the parties' objections in this regard and ruled that addressing one's spouse as "Alo" is a faulty behavior.

Commenting on the subject, Attorney Fatih Karamercan stated that the ruling should be interpreted correctly.

Karamercan stated that for the address of "Alo" to be considered grounds for divorce, third parties must have heard it, the spouse must have been humiliated, and the situation must be continuous.

Citizens who heard that the word "Alo" could now be considered grounds for divorce received this decision from the Court of Cassation with astonishment.

ADDRESSING SOMEONE AS 'ALO' CONSIDERED GROUNDS FOR DIVORCE

Evaluating the decision, Attorney Fatih Karamercan said, "The 2nd Civil Chamber of the Court of Cassation has ruled that, in terms of divorce cases, addressing one's spouse as 'Alo' is grounds for divorce. The parties had filed mutual divorce cases against each other, and in addition to having different types of faulty behaviors, one party addressing their spouse as 'Alo' was deemed a faulty behavior by the court, and it was decided that the parties should divorce.

The parties appealed the decision for appellate review, and their appellate requests were rejected separately. As a result of the appeal review, the 2nd Civil Chamber of the Court of Cassation rejected the parties' objections in this regard and ruled that addressing one's spouse as 'Alo' is a faulty behavior.

It would be more accurate to interpret this decision as follows: I do not think that saying 'Alo' as a joke would be grounds for divorce. However, it needs to be continuous, and third parties must hear it, and the spouse must be humiliated by it."

"LET THE WORD 'ALO' REMAIN ONLY ON THE PHONE, SPOUSES SHOULD APPROACH EACH OTHER WITH RESPECT AND LOVE"

Citizens also commented on the Court of Cassation's decision to consider the word "Alo" as grounds for divorce.

A citizen named Bülent Bozkurt said, "There is a way to say 'Alo'. It is normal to say 'Alo', but it is not what you say, but how you say it that is important. Like, if you say it as 'Alooo', it becomes an insult. The style is important. It is thought of as a demeaning attitude between spouses. It is normal; if a lawsuit has been filed and there is a complaint, it means they are complaining about the situation. Otherwise, there is nothing wrong with the normal word 'Alo'.

We have been married for 30 years. I recommend love, respect, empathy, understanding, helping each other, and sharing life together." His wife, Ayşe Bozkurt, said, "It means there were other problems too. We talk sweetly; like 'My love, my dear'. Let the word 'Alo' remain only on the phone, spouses should approach each other with respect and love."

"IF GRAHAM BELL HEARD THIS, HE WOULD HAVE GIVEN UP ON THE INVENTION"

A young person named Yaprak Yılmaz, who received this decision of the Court of Cassation with astonishment, also mentioned Alexander Graham Bell, the inventor of the telephone and the word "Alo", saying, "I heard it for the first time. It is very easy to get divorced in this era. If it is like this, just for saying 'Alo'. If Graham Bell heard this, he would have given up on the invention." A young person named Can Durgun also said, "I also heard it for the first time. The woman used it as an excuse. The woman already wanted to get a divorce, she used it as an excuse. I think so."

"I THINK IT IS A VERY SMALL THING FOR A MARRIAGE. PATIENCE AND EMPATHY ARE NEEDED"

A woman named Hatice Aslan, who said that she has had a happy marriage with her husband for 45 years, said, "I think it is a very small thing for a marriage. You have to overlook some things, you have to be patient for it to last. Old marriages and new marriages are very different. Patience and empathy, these need to be there. If there are things that cannot be carried, yes, then, but it is not worth it for the smallest things before that.

First of all, it is a pity for the children. Maybe one of the two parties will regret what they did and said a little later. It is necessary not to hear it at that moment, to explain and talk about it calmly at another time, but to definitely inform the other party that you are uncomfortable with it. Then you have given your responsibility to them, you have done your duty." Her husband, Remzi Aslan, said, "I think it is irrational. We advise them to be patient. We advise them to be respectful."