Police Officer Battering Harassed Women Released

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Osman Y., a police officer who got arrested for battering two women in Alsancak district of Izmir province in western Turkey has been released after two days in detention.

On August 10, two men on motorcycles had harassed Derya Kılıç and the 22 yéar-old Seray Gürer while walking on the street in Alsancak district of Izmir.

Upon the incident, the two women had asked for help from two police officers they saw on the street yet the police officers first harassed the women verbally saying "you actually deserve more with this outfit. Look at yourselves", and then battered the two.

Explaining what happened, Kılıç said:

"I told [the police officer], 'we could not get the licence number, could you help us?' And then he directly pushed me to the ground. He stepped on my broken foot and kicked me everywhere. I was harassed and was later battered by the police officer whom I asked for help. After all this, how can I trust police officers, people in general?"

After the women filed a criminal complaint against the police officer, the police officer Orhan Y filed a criminal complaint against the women as well.

Motorcycle driver O.G. (24) and S.Ç. (24) who was sitting behind him were captured through surveillance footage. O.G who was released after giving testimony was later arrested upon objection to his release.

Police officer Orhan Y who battered the harassed women was also arrested on charge of "being indignant and insignificant bodily harm".

Orhan Y. was released on Saturday (August 26) upon his attorney's objection. (ÇT/DG)