M.T., a chief military sergeant who has been arrested for “sexually abusing and depriving the freedom of E.A. (16), has been released by a court for pending trial.
8 suspects stood trial yesterday afternoon in Bingöl Assize Court on the first hearing of the case. While 1 has been jailed already, all suspects have been laid off from their post in Turkey’s military.
With Family and Social Policies Ministry as one of plaintiffs, the hearing was held in a confidential fashion. The court, on the other hand, ordered the release of the only arrested suspect for pending trial.
"Public conscience denigrated”
“The court ordered the pending trial of arrested suspect and declined all the arrest requests for other suspects. It issued a ruling totally unexpected. It also issued an international travel ban for all suspects within judiciary control measures. This ruling denigrated the public conscience. We don’t think it is just. We will appeal to the ruling,” said Canan Çakabay Erdoğan, E.A's advocate.
“We have seen another example for judicial practice in Turkey,” said Reyhan Yalçındağ Baydemir, one of the lawyers from Diyarbakır Bar Association.
“We are confronting this ruling despite our decade long efforts on violence against women and children. We have once more observed how challenging our cause is. However, we are not going to yield in. I thank all the family members here for their surhuman struggle for justice in the midst of multiple pressures. I am calling once more again. They must continue their efforts."
Prosecutors in Bingöl province completed their case indictment, charging 8 ousted army sergeant suspects for “sexual abuse and freedom deprivation” of E.A (16) to prison terms from 10 to 32 years.
According to bianet’s compilation, male perpetrators left 9 women killed, 20 raped, 19 harassed in July. So far in 2013, 97 women were reportedly killed and 97 raped by men.
What happened?
In 2011, the parents of E.A. (16) filed a complaint to General Attorney’s Office in Bingöl, saying that their daughter - who was 14 at the time - has been sexually abused and raped by Sergeant Y.A. and his friends İ.Y, M.T., M.K. and H.
Following the complaint, 4 sergeant suspects were arrested by the court. However, they were released pending trial by a superior court later on. In the meanwhile, the number of rape suspects raised to 8, authorities announced.
Family and Social Policies Ministry became a part of prosecution after the release order. Plaintiff parties requested the re-arrest of 8 rape suspects.
On June 24, prosecutors denied arrest warrant requests for suspects. On the same day, the court rejected the lift of confidentiality order on the case. It, however, ordered a restriction order for suspects to approach E.A.
On June 26, the court arrested a suspect. (NV/BM)
* bianet compiled this article from ntvmsnbc.com and Fırat News Agency (ANF).
* Click here to read the original article in Turkish.
