Forced to sex work, Sibel says, ‘The real struggle starts now’

* Photo: Evrim Kepenek/ bianet

Click to read the article in Turkish / Kurdish

"My arm was broken. I went to the place where they abducted me on my own, I wanted to take the camera footage. I gave several petitions and requested an examination of city surveillance cameras.

"I collected evidence. We informed the prosecutor many times. Then, Mutlu E., who sexually assaulted me, abducted me and forced me to sex work, is arrested and he will appear before the judge tomorrow..."

Thanks to the determined struggle of Sibel, Mutlu E. has been arrested for sexually assaulting her and forcing her to sex work. Mutlu E. will appear before the judge at Bodrum Heavy Penal Court on April 15.

'Our life is in danger'

Speaking to bianet before the hearing, Sibel says that she expects all women and rights defenders to support her:

"Rights defenders have always been with me during all my efforts so far. I would like to thank them all. But the real struggle starts now. If this man is released, our life as a family will be in danger.

"I want this man and the crime group that he is a part of to be penalized. (...) I am very excited. Even though I went through several hardships, I still feel very strong. This man has been arrested after a full year and he is finally appearing before the judge. I trust the courts of Turkey. I am hopeful that justice will be served. I know that the upcoming process will be harder; for this reason, I call on everyone to not leave me alone."

What happened?

As reported by bianet on November 17, 2020, Sibel Y. announced that Mutlu E., who lives in Milas in Muğla province and whom she met for a job interview on March 3, abducted, tortured and sexually assaulted her. The man also reportedly forced Sibel Y. to do sex work.

After she escaped from Mutlu E., Sibel Y. applied to legal authorities as she wanted him to be penalized for what he had done to her. Almost like a prosecutor, she collected evidence, found voice records and looked for camera footage. She also tried to make her voice heard on social media under the hashtag "Sibel'in sessiz çığlığı" (the silent cry of Sibel).

After the issue was reported in the press, her struggle for justice has borne fruit as the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) and Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) MPs brought it to the Parliamentary agenda and the Ministry of Family, Labor and Social Services provided her with protection.

According to the Forensic Medical Institution Report prepared by the Muğla Training and Research Hospital, it has been confirmed that Sibel was subjected to torture, sexual assault and battery.

The conclusion of the report has emphasized that Sibel's sexual inviolability was violated, adding that the attacks of Mutlu E. "caused Sibel Y.'s health and perception ability to be harmed to such an extent that such harm cannot be eliminated with a simple medical intervention."

Having "sexually assaulted" Sibel Y. and "forced her to sex work" in Milas, Muğla, Mutlu E. has been arrested a year after the incident. (EMK/SD)