20.10.2025 16:44
The person who was detained after a video showing them walking the streets in a black chador, which drew reactions on social media, has been released. The individual, a student at METU, stated in their testimony at the prosecutor's office that they bought the chador to wear at a party, saying, "A costume contest was held, and everyone presented their costumes on stage. I also participated in the contest."
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U.C.G., who was detained for 'openly insulting the religious values embraced by a segment of the public' after sharing a video of himself walking the streets in a black chador in Ankara on social media, was released under judicial control. U.C.G. claimed that he bought the chador to wear at a party and shared the video to gain followers.
WALKING THE STREETS OF ANKARA IN A CHADOR
On October 17, citizens who noticed that the person walking in a black chador in the Sıhhiye-Çayyolu metro was a man reported him. The police detained U.C.G., whom they identified by reviewing security camera footage, for 'openly insulting the religious values embraced by a segment of the public.' After his procedures at the police station, U.C.G. was referred to the courthouse. There, he gave a statement to the prosecutor and was released by the court with judicial control measures.
BOUGHT THE CHADOR FOR A HALLOWEEN PARTY
In his statement to the prosecutor, U.C.G. stated that he was a student in the Physics Department of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences at METU and that he went to Ulus to buy a costume to attend a 'Halloween' party held at a venue on Konur Street on October 17, where he bought a chador and a blouse from a shop. U.C.G. said: "I wore the chador in the shop because I didn't know how to wear it. They helped me. The person selling the chador asked why I bought it. I said, 'For a social experiment.' I then took the metro and got off at the METU stop. I went to the Physics Department through the A1 gate. There, I took off the chador and put it in a bag, then I went to the dorm.
"I PARTICIPATED IN THE COSTUME CONTEST"
Later, when it was party time, I put on the chador like a raincoat and took the metro, getting off at the Kızılay stop. I walked to the venue located in Tunalı. While I was on the metro and walking outside, my head and face were constantly uncovered. I used it like a cape, then I went to the venue. Since everyone was wearing different costumes, I wore the chador in a way that covered my head as well. A costume contest was held, and everyone introduced their costumes on stage. I also participated in the contest. I went on stage; however, because I was a bit drunk and some time had passed, I don't remember exactly what I said on stage," he said.
"I SHARED THE VIDEO TO GAIN FOLLOWERS"
U.C.G. stated that they filmed him during the contest, saying, "I shared this video on my social media account. I had no specific purpose for sharing it. We share the things we do daily. Since it was the first time I went on stage in my life, I thought I would gain followers by sharing the video. I didn't know that this video contained any criminal elements. I deleted the video immediately. I am very regretful. If I had known that this video would be interpreted this way, I definitely would not have shared it. I had no intention. I saw that some people were looking at me judgmentally in the metro in Ulus, and I criticized those who looked at closed women in a judgmental way. On the contrary, I shared the difficulties those women face on my social media account. I am from Adıyaman, and my relatives are conservative. It is not possible for me to do this with that intention," he expressed.
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