Taş said that when she reported the abuse to the police, they only made a report and did not take her son’s complaint seriously due to local connections. In September 2022, after another incident of violence, she said the police advised her to call a hotline and only warned the father.
Reports say that her son Arda took his own life.
Taş criticised the lack of coordination between the police and Social Services and questioned why news reports about the abuse were not treated as alerts.
She also accused Social Services worker Aytül Sallı of trying to get her to drop her complaint and mishandling her daughter by sending her to her father against a protection order. Taş reported Sallı’s actions but received only a warning and was told Sallı would be held accountable.
Taş expressed her frustration that she had to report the abuse to multiple agencies and questioned why the system failed her.
Social Services Director Alev Ecevit mentioned that changes to the Child Protection Law are planned and that all reports are evaluated.
In a report by Kibris Postasi published two days after the death of Arda Sünmez was announced on 6 August, Attorney Cansu Nazlı noted that there had been a cycle of domestic violence in his story but that Social Services had not made any statements. Nazlı highlighted how painful and angering the situation is, emphasising that under the law, Social Services are responsible for all children under 18 before their families.
Nazlı pointed out the following on social media:
“We need answers from everyone responsible for the conditions that led to this child’s death. The mindset that leaves victims of domestic violence in darkness, the police who don’t take abuse complaints seriously, and the Social Services that lack adequate personnel, infrastructure, and budget—all owe us an explanation.
“We want more than just details on the ongoing investigation. We need to know how many abuse complaints were investigated and resolved before this child’s death.
“When will the police set up units for domestic violence in every district and organise village stations?
“We expect a statement from the Ministry of Labour and Social Security. Do you feel no responsibility for this death?
“Does the government have a plan to establish violence prevention centres and shelters in every region?
“Will there be any effort to increase the budget and staff for Social Services?
“How many more children need to die before we establish the necessary Child Monitoring Centres to protect and follow up on suspected abuse cases?”
