22.01.2026 19:30
A family in Eyüpsultan filed a criminal complaint, claiming that their 3-year-old child was subjected to violence and abuse at a nursery owned by the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality. After discovering bruises on their child's body, the family spoke with the nursery officials and requested the camera footage. The governor's office announced that an investigation has been launched regarding the matter.
A family in Eyüpsultan filed a complaint, claiming that their 3-year-old child was subjected to violence and abuse at the 'Yuvamız İstanbul' nursery, which is affiliated with the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM).
ALLEGATION OF VIOLENCE AND ABUSE AT IMM NURSERY
According to the allegation, a family with two children residing in the Güzeltepe neighborhood of Eyüpsultan sent their 3-year-old child U.B. to the 'Yuvamız İstanbul' nursery, which is also located in the same neighborhood. The family went to the nursery after noticing bruises on their child's body when he returned home from the nursery last December.
FAMILY FILED A CRIMINAL COMPLAINT
Considering that their child might have been abused, the family wanted to speak with the authorities at the nursery and requested the camera footage. In response to the family's request, the nursery management initially did not provide the camera footage and denied the allegations made against them. Following this, the family went to the police station and filed a complaint against the staff at the nursery.
"A PART OF HIS BODY IS BRUISED"
The mother stated that the teachers at the nursery had warned her son, saying, "I went to pick up my son from school at 5:00 PM, and then the assistant teacher brought my son to me and said, 'there's something here.' That was the sentence; I asked what it was, and when I opened it, a part of my child's body was bruised. I asked what happened, and he said, 'Mom, it happened in Silivri.' We had last gone to Silivri 7 months ago; I asked my son what happened. He said, 'Let me think,' they had warned him inside. I asked the teacher. The teacher said, 'I wasn't at school.' Then, in a panic, I immediately took my son; no explanation was given there," she said.
The mother claimed that her child was physically abused by the teacher at the nursery and said: "We filed a criminal complaint with the chief prosecutor's office, and then we went to the headquarters of Yuvam İstanbul. We met with the highest officials at the headquarters, and we showed them the child's photo. We told them that our child had been assaulted at school, that no one knew about it, that we wanted this issue to be resolved, and that we had filed a criminal complaint. The officials there told us that we had such a right, 'Of course, you can file a complaint; let the perpetrators be revealed, you pursue your case, and we will conduct our investigation internally.'"
"TEACHERS CONTINUED TO WORK THERE"
On December 2, we stated that we wanted to watch the footage and wrote a petition to the institution. About 20 days later, meanwhile, my son said in the morning on the 2nd, 'the teacher held and squeezed this part, and the teacher threw me to the ground.' For this, we filed a criminal complaint again for sexual abuse. We do not accept any of this in any way, and all of it is true. If necessary, we want TÜBİTAK to investigate. These places are unregulated. We want the ministry to inspect these places. Despite my wife going to the IMM headquarters several times, they did not resolve the issue in any way, and the teachers continued to work there."
GOVERNORATE INITIATED AN INVESTIGATION
The father said, "Everyone should put their hand on their conscience and focus on the children above all else. If necessary, I will go to the European Court of Human Rights; I will do everything, but I trust the great Turkish justice," he said.
The family stated that they filed a complaint against the school principal B.Z., class teacher E.Ö., assistant teacher, and physical education teacher. The family claimed that the IMM management tried to cover up the incident and demanded that those responsible receive the heaviest punishment. Meanwhile, it was learned that the nursery continued its educational activities.
In a statement regarding the issue, the Istanbul Governorate said, "Various media outlets have reported news and publications regarding allegations of assault and abuse against children at the nursery operating in our Eyüpsultan District, which is affiliated with the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality. An investigation has been initiated by our Governorate regarding the matter, and administrative and judicial processes are being followed."