Court Acquits Sexual Abuse Suspect For "Respectful Stance"

– Turkish court acquitted a man accused of kidnapping a young woman, beating her with a hose and sexually abusing her, having been standing trial with 42 years in jail, defending "the victim has given consent". The court applauded the "respectful stance" of the defendant.

In southeastern province of Şanlıurfa, a 30-year-old construction worker has met with the 20-year-old young woman after a conversation on the phone, in Diyarbakır. The offender has allegedly kidnapped the young woman to Istanbul, at gunpoint.

He has hold the woman captive at a construction site in Istanbul for a week, then in Diyarbakır, where he sexually abused her, according to the young woman.

She fled the house in Diyarbakır, and sought help from the police department.

"We were lovers"

The offender, who has been detained after the complaint of the woman, was demanded up to 42 years in jail. After four months of detainment, the suspect refused the accusations and claimed "she had consent" for sexual intercourse.

"I have accidentally called a number. The owner of the number, called me back and said she wanted to meet me. I have told her I was married. We were lovers and we have been making video conferences. She accepted to come to Istanbul with me. We went to the construction site where I work. I wanted to engage in sexual intercourse with her at the site, where she accepted. I have never hold her captive, beaten her, threatened her with death or raped her" he said.

On the other hand, the young woman refused the defense of the suspect, claiming he had forced her to have sex with him, threatening her at gunpoint. "When I told him I wanted to go back to my family's house, he started to beat me with a hose. He said I did not have a family anymore, and he would only send my corpse to my parents" she said.

She refused to lodge a complaint against the suspect, underlining she did not want to get involved in the case.

Acquittal for "consent" reduced sentence for "respectful stance"

Despite the defense of the young woman, the court acquitted the suspect, due to "inconstancy of alleged crimes".

The court first sentenced the defendant of possession of unregistered firearm to one year in jail, then reduced the sentence to cash fine of 10 months in jail, due to "respectful stance".

The court also suspended the penalty, with the opinion that "the defendant would not relapse".

At a similar case in Diyarbakır, the court has recently reduced the sentence of a 22-year-old man, who bet and raped a 14-year-old, because of his "respectful stance" and his wearing of a tie during his trial.

(Photo) - Diyarbakır