Publication and Broadcast Ban on News About Child Abuse in İstanbul

"Say 'Stop' to child abuse"

Click to read the article in Turkish

A publication and broadcast ban has been imposed on the news about the sexual abuse of a five-year-old girl in Küçükçekmece, İstanbul. Access to some news articles about the issue has been blocked.

As reported by the state-run Anadolu Agency (AA), appealing to court on behalf of the Ministry of Family, Labor and Social Services, lawyer Büşra Öztürk requested that a publication and broadcast ban be imposed on the news about child abuse incident in Küçükçekmece and access to some news articles published on a number of websites be blocked.

Evaluating the request of the Ministry, the Küçükçekmece 3rd Penal Court of Peace has ruled that until the investigation is concluded, the publication and broadcast of all types of news, interviews and the like concerning the issue on visual and print media as well as on Internet and social media shall be banned as per the Article 3/2 of the Law no. 5187.

The court has also ruled that access to the news articles indicated in the petition of the Ministry shall be blocked.

What happened?

A five-year-old child was hospitalized after she was sexually abused in the Neighborhood of Kanarya in Küçükçekmece, İstanbul. It was reported that the child was found by her family in front of their house. The girl was unconscious when the family found her. The girl was hospitalized afterwards.

Taken into custody in relation with the incident, M.V. has been arrested on charge of "sexual abuse" by the court on duty. (AÖ/SD)