Employers Arrested Over Torture of 2 Child Workers

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Two employers previously released on probation over the torture of two child workers have been arrested upon the objection of the prosecutor's office.

In a video footage shared on social media last week, 15- and 17-year old siblings and child workers were seen to be hung to the ceiling and beaten by their employers. Taken into custody on charge of torment, the employers were released on probation. As the prosecutor's office objected to their release, the employers were arrested today (January 2).

Working as an apprentice at an auto spare parts shop in Karatay, Konya, the 15-year-old child worker was hung to the ceiling by his employer, who accused him of "forgetting the size of a screw." The video footage also featured his 17-year-old elder brother being beaten by their employer.

Sharing a message about the judicial process on its Twitter account, the Health and Safety Labor Watch (İSİG Assembly) previously announced that two employers stood trial for torturing the child workers and were released on probation by the court. The employers have been arrested upon the objection of the prosecutor's office.

What happened?

Video footage of the torture of two child workers in the central province of Konya emerged. Two siblings, E.A.Y. (15) and H.H.Y. (17), who work at an auto spare parts shop, were injured because of the torture, the Health and Safety Labor Watch (İSİG Assembly) reported.

E.A.Y. was hung to the ceiling by the owner of the shop for "forgetting the size of a screw." The boy stayed hung for about 15 minutes while his pants were pulled down, the footage shows.

The employer also beat H.H.Y. for "bending a material incorrectly." Having bruises and swelling on his face, the boy was taken to a hospital.

The police launched an investigation against the employer for "willful injury" after the boys filed a criminal complaint against him. (AÖ/SD)