‘We Offer Stolen Futures to Children on the Centenary of Children’s Day’

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After Müslüm Aslan, who was arrested for stabbing his wife in Turkey's southeastern province of Antep and released in November 2019, battered and killed his 9-year-old daughter Ceylan, İstanbul Bar Association's Center for Children's Rights has released a statement.

"The release of people without any social service or rehabilitation policies has claimed the life of one child on the centenary of April 23 Children's Day," the Center has noted in its statement and added:

"A restraining order must be issued for every released person likely to inflict violence on victims and the protection of the victims must be ensured. 

"That he was released before the law on criminal enforcement entered into force does not show that there are social service or rehabilitation policies. A perpetrator put on trial for using violence on his spouse must be given psychological support before he meets her and his children following his release and protective measures for the victims need to be prioritized."

Gaziantep Bar Association has also released a statement about the incident and said, "Celebrating the centenary of April 23 Children's Day, we are unfortunately evolving from a nation that sees the children of the whole world equal to a nation that offers them deaths, rapes and stolen futures. We will keep on protecting children's rights at all costs."

What happened?

Arrested for stabbing his wife who wanted to divorce him in Antep province, Müslüm Aslan took his three children with him after his release. Living together with his three children, Aslan battered and killed his 9-year-old daughter Ceylan. He was arrested again yesterday (April 21).

On the other side, after the news about Ceylan's death became public, it was alleged, especially on social media, that Müslüm Aslan was released from prison based on the recently enacted law on criminal enforcement. However, in a statement released by the Gaziantep Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, it has been announced that Aslan was released on November 4, 2019. (AÖ/SD)