Father who ‘abused’ his child released on probation

* Photo: csgorselarsiv.org - "Sexual abuse can be prevented"

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Facing charges of "aggravated child abuse" for abusing his child, father Refik Y., a member of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), appeared before the judge in İzmir province today (July 29).

The court has released Refik Y. on probation.

Arrested defendant Refik Y. attended the hearing at the İzmir Heavy Penal Court via the Audio and Visual Conference System (SEGBİS).

The father did not accept the accusations.

'We don't accept it'

Speaking about the release of the defendant on probation, Human Rights Association (İHD) Co-Chair and lawyer Eren Keskin has said:

"Even though there is a finding of abuse in the report issued by the Forensic Medicine Institution, the father put on trial over abuse has been released on probation. This situation that has arisen without the collection of evidence has nothing to do with the law. Male suspects cannot be released so easily in cases of abuse. We do not accept the ruling..."

What happened?

Living in Selçuk, İzmir, Refik Y. and Nazlı U. decided to have a divorce. As there is no family court in Selçuk, the case was referred to the penal court of first instance. While the proceedings of divorce were still ongoing, a lawsuit was filed for the custody of 6-year-old Y.B. and M.M.

At the hearing on March 24, 2021, the attorneys of Nazlı U. submitted expert reports and psychologist's opinions to the court, documenting that the father had abused Y.B. However, taking only the Social Examination Report (SİR) prepared by a single psychologist, the court board gave the temporary custody of the child to the father. According to this decision, the mother would be allowed to meet her children at certain hours every Saturday.

The attorneys of Nazlı U. appealed against this decision. In their petition, they listed the indications of child abuse one by one. Attorneys Özgür Baykal and Fırat Güneş demanded that the temporary custody of the child be taken away from the father by considering the best interest of the child and that their objection to the SİR report be accepted.

The attorneys also requested that a new SİR report be issued after the child was examined by a board of experts, including a child psychiatrist, and that the specialist psychologists be heard at court.

However, the court rejected all of these requests.

With the report of the Forensic Medicine Institution affiliated with the Justice Ministry, it has been confirmed that the child was abused by the father.

Following the report documenting the finding of sexual abuse, father Refik Y. was arrested and sent to prison. (EMK/SD)