05.06.2026 13:50
In the trial of five defendants, four of whom are detained, accused of harassing interns at the Turkish Grand National Assembly, the court ordered the release of the detained defendants under judicial control measures, including a ban on traveling abroad.
A student named D.K., who was interning at the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TBMM) during the 2024-2025 academic term, claimed that Halil İ.G., an employee at the Assembly's cafeteria, sexually harassed her and applied to the Ankara Police Department's Children's Branch on December 4 last year. An investigation conducted by the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office resulted in charges being filed against five suspects. The indictment stated that an investigation was launched after four victims, all under the age of 18 at the time of the incident, alleged that they were harassed by Halil İ.G., Durmuş U., İbrahim B., Ramazan Ç., and Recep S., who worked at the Assembly's cafeteria during the period when they were interns. The suspects face up to 16 years and 6 months in prison each on charges of 'sexual abuse of a child by molestation' and 'sexual harassment of a child'.
RELEASED AND RE-ARRESTED
At the second hearing of the case held at the Ankara 57th Criminal Court of First Instance on February 9, a release decision was made for the arrested suspects Halil İ.G., Durmuş U., İbrahim B., and Recep S. The Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office objected to the release decision. The higher court found the objection justified and ordered the re-arrest of the suspects.
'I DO NOT ACCEPT THE ACCUSATION'
At today's hearing at the Ankara 57th Criminal Court of First Instance, all suspects, some of the complainants, and their lawyers were present. Arrested suspect Durmuş U., who made a defense in the hearing, stated that he had worked with honor and dignity for 15 years and that no report had ever been filed against him, saying, 'My honor and pride have been trampled upon. The accusation against me is heavy. I have been slandered. My daughter had to interrupt her education because her psychology was affected. I absolutely do not accept the accusation. I request my acquittal.'
'I SENT A MESSAGE FOR FRIENDLY TALK'
Arrested suspect İbrahim B. also claimed that he never even went near the complainant and said, 'I sent no sexually explicit message nor wrote anything else. That day, I only sent a message for friendly talk because I was bored. I request my acquittal and release.'
Arrested suspect Recep S. did not accept the accusations, asking, 'Why did these children reach such a conclusion after 6 months? Their teachers came every week. Why did they say something like this only after so much time?'
Arrested suspect Halil İ.G. stated that he has been in prison for about 6 months, that his family life has been ruined during this process, and that his wife has filed for divorce. Claiming that he never touched the complainant anywhere, Halil İ.G. said, 'She gave me her phone number herself. She added me on social media herself,' and requested his release. Non-arrested suspect Ramazan Ç. also requested his acquittal.
'I WANT THEM PUNISHED'
Complainant E.D. stated that suspect Durmuş U. told her child during the period of the incidents, 'You are 18, your family cannot interfere with you,' and said, 'He touched my child multiple times. I continue my complaint. I want him punished to the fullest extent.'
Complainant İ.K. also said, 'There are messages. Is that how one should write messages? That is why I am filing a complaint.'
HEARING ADJOURNED
The public prosecutor repeated the opinion he had given in the previous session on the merits of the case, requesting that the suspects be punished and that the arrested suspects remain in custody. Announcing its provisional decision, the court ordered the release of the arrested suspects with the judicial measure of a ban on traveling abroad, taking into account that there were no suspicions of flight, that evidence had been collected, and that they had fixed residence addresses. The hearing was adjourned to July 2.