* Photo: Bircan Değirmenci
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The trial of four people who hold fake job interviews and force women to sex work began at the Bodrum 1st Heavy Penal Court today (April 15).
While Sibel Y., one of the women forced to sex work by the crime group, her attorney Eren Keskin and women's rights defenders were present at the courtroom, Mutlu E., the arrested defendant of the case, attended the hearing via Audio and Visual Information System (SEGBİS).
Defendant's request for release rejected
Taking the floor first, defendant Mutlu E. made his defense. He did not accept the charges and demanded his release. While his attorney requested that Sibel Y. receive a medical report proving her sanity, the court board has not accepted the attorney's request.
Speaking afterwards, Sibel Y. explained what she went through in detail. Her attorney Eren Keskin presented evidence to the court.
Announcing its interim judgement, the court board has ruled that Mutlu E. shall remain behind bars and issued a warrant against the three other defendants, namely Ali L., Pınar G. and Ayşe G.
'We will be here, too'
Making a statement after the hearing, Keskin has said:
"The case continued in a highly rights-based manner. Sibel was naturally excited and cried while she was talking about what she went through. She lived through such hard things. With her own struggle, she has brought the ones who made her experience all these before the court.
"Unfortunately, in this society, the woman subjected to sexual assault is accused. Sibel has broken this by herself. She collected evidence on her own, she struggled. She was left alone. She waged a struggle on her own. This is very important. I found it unbelievable that this man was not arrested despite all this evidence. It is what happens in several cases.
"After the forensic medical report of Sibel was issued, the case could finally be filed and the defendant was arrested.
"Sibel's struggle has set an example for all of us. She has tried to save other women's lives as well. The next hearing will be held on June 22. And we will be here, too."
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)
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