A man was arrested and brought to court charged with sexual harassment and sexual assault* of a 16-year-old girl in a cake shop, Yeniduzen reported.
Police officer Murat Ergün gave evidence to the court. He said that on August 24,, between 02.15 and 04.00, the suspect, who was a customer in a shop in Ortaköy, committed the crime of sexual harassment and the assault of 16-year-old girl who was serving customers with her father, by offering her 600 TL to buy underwear.
He then sexually assaulted her. The police officer noted that the suspect was arrested following the complaint and an investigation was launched. The police officer stated that the suspect gave a voluntary statement containing a confession.
The officer noted that the suspect was a citizen of the Republic of Turkey and that his legal status in the country would be investigated, but that immigration checks would be conducted during the week because it was the weekend. The police officer stated that there were statements to be taken and camera footage to be examined, and requested that the suspect be detained for two days.
Judge Zehra Yalkut Bilgeç, who evaluated the testimony in her presence, ordered that the suspect be detained for two days.
*Sexual assault and femicide are significant issues in Turkey, with statistics reflecting the ongoing struggle against gender-based violence. For example:
Sexual Assault
Official Reports: Sexual assault remains underreported in Turkey, like in many countries, but official data suggests an increase in the number of reported cases in recent years. The Turkish Statistical Institute (TÜİK) and the Ministry of Justice provide some figures, but comprehensive and up-to-date statistics are often scarce.
Studies and reports from various NGOs indicate that a significant percentage of women in Turkey experience some form of sexual violence in their lifetime. Surveys suggest that around 40% of women have been subjected to physical or sexual violence by a partner or someone else.
Meanwhile, there has been growing public awareness and activism around the issue, with social media campaigns and protests bringing attention to the problem. Despite this, many cases go unreported due to stigma, fear of reprisal, and distrust in the legal system.
Femicide
Femicide, or the murder of women based on their gender, has been alarmingly high in Turkey. According to the platform “We Will Stop Femicide,” which monitors cases across the country, the number of femicides has increased significantly over the past decade.
Recent Figures: In 2022, the platform reported that at least 334 women were killed by men in Turkey. This was a slight decrease from the 2021 figure of 423 reported femicides. However, the actual numbers might be higher due to unreported or misclassified cases.
Long-Term Trends: Over the last decade, the number of femicides has fluctuated but generally increased, reflecting broader societal and legal challenges in addressing gender-based violence. The issue has become more prominent in public discourse, particularly following high-profile cases that have sparked national outrage. [Ed.]