Man Assaulting Woman in Shorts in Prison for Opposing to Tax Law

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A man, who assaulted a woman on the ground that she was wearing shorts in a minibus in İstanbul, has been released of the assault but sent to prison on “opposing to tax law”.

A man named E.K. assaulted a woman named Melisa Sağlam (21) in a minibus on the ground that she was wearing shorts in İstanbul’s district of Pendik.

Speaking to BirGün newspaper, university student Sağlam said that “What I only want is that the assailant is punished. The assaults against women either go unpunished or see minimum punishment. This encourages men more to assault”. Stating that she is taking strength from women’s support, Melisa said “This support has strengthened me”.

Doğan News Agency reported that Sağlam said that the assailant said “Don’t you feel any shame for getting dressed like this in Ramadan” and then punched her.

“I fell on the floor after the punch. I waited for help, no one came. The driver had turned his behind watching. He ran away, no one went after him”, Sağlam said and added that those in the minibus backed the assailant.

Being detained upon Sağlam’s complaint, assailant E.K. was released following his statement. However, as it came out during the judicial proceedings that he was sentenced to 3 years and 9 months in prison on charge of “opposing to tax law”, E.K. was sent to prison for the execution of this crime. (ÇT/TK)