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The court has ruled that the arrest of the man named B.Ç (55), who raped a three-month old kitten in the district of Eyüpsultan in İstanbul, shall continue.
B.Ç. was arrested on charge of "killing an adopted animal unjustly, causing it to lose its vital abilities and damaging (raping the animal)" on June 20, 2018.
CLICK - Man Who Raped Cat Arrested
A vast number of animal rights advocates attended the first hearing of B.Ç. that was held at the İstanbul 14th Criminal Court of First Instance yesterday (July 19). Hundreds of people applied to the court to individually get involved in the case.
The court board accepted the involvement demands raised by the Association of Struggle Against Sexual Violence, the Committee for Monitoring Animal Rights (HAKİM), the Confederation of Animals' Right to Life (HAYKONFED) and the Justice to Animals Association. The court board ruled that the arrest of B.Ç. shall continue.
Speaking to bianet, attorney Hülya Yalçın said, "The judge ruled for the continuation of his arrest because he saw a danger. It is a very important ruling. It is the first time that a court has ruled for the continuation of arrest in a case regarding animal rights."
The next hearing will be held at 3 p.m. on August 16, 2018.
Attorney Yalçın: There is also a possibility of child abuse
In his statement of defence, B.Ç. stated that he cannot remember the incident because he was drunk and in response to the question regarding the weapons and porn films found in his house, he said, "I am in the position of a victim. I am afraid of going out."
Speaking about the case, attorney Hülya Yalçın stated, "We also learned that B.Ç. collected coins and gave them to the children, whom he invited to his house. We are calling the families in that region (Alibeyköy) to have their children checked and to file a criminal complaint if their children have been abused."
Referring to the high number of involvement demands on the part of both non-governmental organizations and people as well as the public indignation caused by the incident, Yalçın also emphasized that the course of this court case can also have an impact on the animal rights laws to be enacted in the country. (ÇT/SD)
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