8 People Detained in Relation With Child Abuse in İstanbul Released

* Photograph: Women Assemblies / Twitter

"Let women live, let children laugh"

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Of the nine people who were previously taken into custody in relation with the sexual abuse of a five-year-old girl in the district of Küçükçekmece in İstanbul, eight of them have been released.

Making a statement regarding the incident yesterday (April 25), Minister of Interior Süleyman Soylu announced that the perpetrator was caught.

It has been reported that the 20-year-old perpetrator M.V. was a peddler of bags and he was identified by the child in company with her family and a pedagogue. As of 10.08 a.m. today, the perpetrator was still in custody.

CLICK - 5-Year-Old Child Sexually Abused in İstanbul

Two of the detained have been released after it was ascertained that they had no involvement in the incident.

The other six detained from Pakistan have been referred to the Directorate General of Migration Management to be deported from Turkey.

Protests continue around Turkey

The protests against the incident have been continuing around Turkey. Taking to the streets, woman have denounced child abuse in Kartal, Maltepe and Avcılar in İstanbul and in Ankara, Eskişehir, Düzce and Kocaeli.

We Will Stop Femicide Platform and Şaban Vatan, the father of Rabia Naz Vatan, who suspiciously died in Giresun, also visited the family. Making a statement, General Representative of the platform Gülsüm Kav said,

"With good reason, the people of the neighborhood have waged a struggle so that the perpetrator could be caught. We also wanted to congratulate the neighborhood. It is, of course, a difficult period for the family. It is very important to struggle together by supporting each other. I believe that the struggle of our women and people, who do not keep silent in the face of several incidents, will bring justice."

What happened?

A five-year-old child was hospitalized after she was subjected to sexual abuse in the Neighborhood of Kanarya in Küçükçekmece, İstanbul.

It was reported that the abused 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. Hearing about the incident, the residents of Kanarya Neighborhood marched to the Kanarya Police Station after 7 p.m. on April 23 and protested the incident by chanting slogans.

It was also indicated that the only witness of the incident was another five-year-old child who was playing with the sexually abused girl.

The Governorship of İstanbul released a statement about the incident on April 24 and claimed that "such regrettable incidents are used with the aim of provocation by certain circles that want to cause chaos and disorder in society." It announced that "a legal action will be taken against the identified person or persons" who allegedly use the incident for that end.

On April 25, Minister of Interior Süleyman Soylu also stated, "I have been informed that the perpetrator has been caught."

Soylu added that the Governorship of İstanbul would release a more detailed statement regarding the issue. (AÖ/SD)