18.06.2026 16:20
Hiranur Foundation founder Yusuf Ziya Gumusel, who was sentenced to 19 years and 9 months in prison for allegedly marrying off his daughter H.K.G. when she was 6 years old, has been released following the Supreme Court's reversal decision on the grounds of "insufficient investigation." Upon his release from prison, Gumusel was greeted by a large crowd with takbirs.
A striking development has occurred in the case that shook Turkey, known as the "6-year-old child marriage" case. Yusuf Ziya Gümüşel, founder of the Hiranur Foundation, who was tried for allegedly marrying off his daughter at a young age and sentenced by the local court to 19 years and 9 months in prison, has been released following the Court of Cassation's reversal decision. Gümüşel's being greeted by a group with takbirs upon his release from prison sparked debate on social media.
RECORD PENALTIES HAD BEEN IMPOSED
The revelation that Yusuf Ziya Gümüşel, founder of the Hiranur Foundation affiliated with the İsmailağa Community, had married off his daughter H.K.G. through a religious ceremony to his 29-year-old disciple Kadir İstekli when she was only 6 years old caused a public outcry.
The Istanbul Anatolian 2nd Heavy Penal Court handed down heavy penalties to the defendants in its ruling announced on October 23, 2023.
- 30 years for the detained defendant (husband) Kadir İstekli,
- 20 years for father Yusuf Ziya Gümüşel (later finalized as 19 years 9 months),
- 16 years 8 months in prison for mother Fatma Gümüşel.
COURT OF CASSATION OVERTURNED THE DECISION CITING 'INSUFFICIENT INVESTIGATION'
However, the Court of Cassation, to which the case file was sent, made a game-changing decision in recent months. The Court of Cassation ruled that some critical elements in the case file had been insufficiently investigated, overturning the local court's decision. In the reversal justification, it was stated that the evidentiary value of audio recordings obtained during the trial had not been adequately assessed, official records concerning the victim H.K.G.'s age had been insufficiently examined, HTS (phone traffic) records had not been analyzed, and some important witnesses had not been heard.
TAKBIR WELCOME AT PRISON GATE
Following the Court of Cassation's reversal decision, in the retrial process, the court reviewed the detention status and decided to release father Yusuf Ziya Gümüşel. After the decision, a large group greeted Gümüşel at the prison gate. The footage shows Gümüşel being put into a car accompanied by takbirs.