17.09.2025 14:44
In the case regarding the marriage of H.K.G., the 6-year-old daughter of Yusuf Ziya Gümüşel, the founder of the Hiranur Foundation, the appellate court increased the sentences of the defendants by one year each. The court sentenced Kadir İstekli to a total of 37 years for the crimes of "systematic sexual abuse of a child" and "qualified sexual assault," while Yusuf Ziya Gümüşel, the father, received a prison sentence of 19 years and 9 months for the crime of "systematic sexual abuse of a child."
The daughter of Hiranur Foundation founder Yusuf Ziya Gümüşel, H.K.G., was married at the age of 6 and subjected to sexual abuse. In the trial regarding this case, the Regional Court of Appeals 20th Criminal Chamber increased the sentences of the detained defendants. Defendant Kadir İstekli was sentenced to 37 years, while father Yusuf Ziya Gümüşel received a sentence of 19 years and 9 months in prison.
In relation to the incident that shocked Turkey, the indictment prepared by the Anadolu Chief Public Prosecutor's Office in 2022 was concluded in the trial held by the Anadolu 2nd High Criminal Court in October 2023. The court panel sentenced the detained defendant Kadir İstekli to 30 years for the crime of "qualified sexual abuse of a child," and father Yusuf Ziya Gümüşel, also detained for the same crime, to 20 years in prison. After the parties appealed the approval decision of the Istanbul Regional Court of Appeals, the case was sent to the Court of Cassation.
APPEAL SENTENCES INCREASED BY ONE YEAR
Detained defendants Yusuf Ziya Gümüşel and Kadir İstekli were brought to the trial held at the Istanbul Regional Court of Appeals 20th Criminal Chamber. The lawyers of the parties and the lawyer of the Ministry of Family and Social Services attended the hearing. The defendants and their lawyers requested compliance with the Court of Cassation's annulment decision. The panel decided to comply with the announcement of the Court of Cassation 9th Criminal Chamber and continued the hearing.
The public prosecutor, who presented his opinion on the merits, requested the punishment of the defendants for the crimes attributed to them. The court panel, announcing its decision, sentenced defendant Kadir İstekli to 22 years in prison for the crime of "qualified sexual abuse of a child" and to 15 years in prison for the crime of "qualified sexual assault." Defendant Yusuf Ziya Gümüşel was sentenced to 19 years and 9 months in prison for the crime of "qualified sexual abuse of a child."