Woman Harassed by Security Staff Faces Prosecution for ‘Insulting Public Officer’

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A lawsuit has been brought on Çağla Köse, who was harassed by a public officer on the pretext of the cloth she wore and was attempted to be taken out at Maçka Park, on charge of "insulting public officer". The first hearing will be held at December 19 at Çağlayan Courthouse in İstanbul.

According to a report by Hayati Argan from Gazete (Newspaper) Habertürk, it was stated in the indictment that police arrived at the scene upon the security staff notifying them as "A half-naked woman is wandering at the park". The police arriving at the scene said that they didn't see "anything wrong with the woman's dress".

It was also stated in the indictment that the security staff saying "You dress like that and then when you are raped, you complain that 'the security staff couldn't protect us" openly insulted Köse, and the young woman under the gross insulting insulted back by saying 'Look at this maniac, he called the police, why on earth did he do that?'"

The security staff Savaş İ. charged with "insult" faces from 3 months to 2 years in prison whereas Köse charged with "insulting a public officer" faces at least 1 year in prison.

Following the incident, Akdeniz Security Services Corp. issued a written statement on July 31 and said Savaş İ. was discharged.

It hasn't been explained yet how an act against a corporate officer can be considered within the scope of a "crime against public officer".

What happened?

Women organized a march with the "Don't Mess With My Outfit" slogan in Kadıköy district in İstanbul on July 29.

On the same day, Savaş İ., a security officer at Maçka Park, harassed Çağla Köse telling her that she can't wander in the park with the clothes she wore. The harasser security officer also called the police.
Upon the reaction by the woman and the people around, the harasser security officer left the scene.

Following this incident, another "Don't Interfere in the Way I Dress" demonstration was staged, this time at Maçka Park on July 30.

Çağla Köse filed a complaint against Savaş İ. pressing charge of "Intervening in one's preferences concerning his or her life style by using violence". (ÇT/TK)