Child worker who asked for his daily wage battered, abused

* Afyonkarahisar Courthouse

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A child worker asked his employers for his daily wage of 200 lira (approx. 25 USD) in Afyon province; he was subjected to torture and abuse.

Attorney Elif Tuğba Şahin says that before her 16-year-old client was battered with sticks and iron bars, one of the suspects said to him, "Pull down your trousers, we will make the payment like that."

The child, working in a fish shop in Turkey's Aegean province of Afyon, went to the shop to get his daily wage. After he asked for his wage from shop owners Akif A. and Ali S., they battered him for hours.

The child and his family have filed a criminal complaint about the incident. Elif Tuğba Şahin, the attorney of the family, says that the child has been traumatized and shares the following information:

"The incident occured due to an unpaid wage. My client has an unpaid wage of 200 lira. He works for a daily wage, his family is also having financial difficulties. After he asked for 200 lira, the incident happened.

"What the child went through is not easy. He was battered for hours and there is also another detail. The child's statement refers to it as well. One of the suspects stood behind the child and tried to pull down his trousers. He abused my client, telling him, 'Let me do it once, I will pay your money then.'

"There is not anything put into action, but the child was battered afterwards. Two people severely beat him. They battered him with bars and sticks. They made the child take off his trousers and pullover as well.

"One of the suspects kicked the child in the face with his boots with iron ornaments, his body is black and blue.

"He is also in a very bad psychological state. There are allegations of theft against him; it is not the case, the child is the one who has money owed. They refer to allegations of theft and make such defenses to evade the charges, they are trying to make accusations of culpability against the client."

According to attorney Şahin, while the child was being battered, another worker from the same shop was threatened as well: "'If you talk about us, we will do the same to you,' they told him. The other worker was frightened. He watched the incident, but could not interfere."

Şahin says that the child will be referred to an emergency medical institution for a report, adding that he will also receive psychological support. The suspects are expected to give their statements today. (AÖ/SD)