Abdullah Çakıroğlu, who kicked a woman in the face on a public bus in Istanbul for wearing shorts, is evacuated in his first trial.
Ayşegül Terzi, a 23-year-old nurse, was attacked by Çakıroğlu in a bus in Istanbul last month. The offender had said that he attacked her because she was wearing shorts, which "was not suitable".
The incident was captured on the bus’ CCTV camera which apparently shows an unidentified man standing at the back of the bus. The man is apparently shouting: “those who wear shorts must die!”
Terzi told a TV channel that she didn’t hear him because she was listening to her headphones.
The man then allegedly started to attack the woman, kicking her in the face while apparently screaming “you are a devil!”
She later claimed the bus driver refused to take her to a police station or hospital.
"APPROPRIATE FOR ISLAMIC LAW"
The attacker was first detained. He had declared that he kicked the woman because she was wearing "unsuitable for the public area". He had also mentioned that his action was "in accordance with Islamic law".
After his testify, the attacker was released on conditions of trial without arrest, by the prosecution. However, this created a scandal. Severe reaction from the public, especially through social media channels, forced the legal authorities to change their decision. Communist Party also made a public announcement and said that "we do not recognise Islamic Law, we warn the jurists of Turkish Republic not to take part in this reactionist crime against women". The offender was recaptured the same day and arrested until the trial day.
RELEASED ALTHOUGH HE INSISTED DEFENDING HIS CRIME
As a result of the trial, the attacker has released again. It is reported that during the trial, the offender claimed that he is psychologically ill. However, he insisted that the woman he attacked was sitting in the bus "inappropriately", he has warned her and after kicked her. He insisted saying that according to Quran, women have to cover up to be modest. He said that he attacked her because "his moral sentiments overflew".
It is also reported that during the trial, the offender continued to intervene while Ayşegül Terzi was talking. Terzi cried during the trial; she and her family reacted to the release decision.
The court did not give the final decision, the trial will continue, but the offender is released despite he did not regret his action and continued to declare that his attack was "appropriate". It is reported that the court released the offender with the condition that he will not draw near the house and working place of Terzi and he will not disturb her with any means of communication.
ATTACKER ADMIRES ERDOĞAN
After the attack was in the news, the social media accounts of the attacker were analysed. It was found that he followed several pages of Erdoğan fanatics and shared posts of these pages. One of his posts was "women who wear nasty are my wives".
REACTIONOST AND WOMEN-HATER DISCOURSE OF AKP POLITICIANS
The disgusting ideas voiced by offender Abdullah Çakıroğlu are not new. Indeed, they are voiced by several politicians and supporters of AKP and some public officials, which is the reason behind the comfort of the offender. In addition, the legal system is not designed to prevent such crimes.
The crimes against women, including harassments and femicides, are not taken seriously. Recep Akdağ, the Minister of Health, is known with his statement that "women who are victims of rape should give birth to the children, the state will look after the children".
Several AKP administrators became the topic of news due to their statements, like the one by the offender. "Woman without cover is like a house without curtain; it is either for sale or for rent". This is a popular motto of reactionists. Süleyman Demirci and Naim Köse, who had to resign from their responsibilities as local administrators of AKP in 2011 and 2012 respectively, are just a couple of examples.
In 2014, Bülent Arınç, who was deputy prime minister, declared in a speech that "woman should not burst into laughter in public; her actions should not be attractive."
In 2013, "religious scholar" Ömer Tuğrul İnançer, declared in the state television TRT that, pregnant women should avoid walking on the streets; they should "breathe fresh air in their husbands' car."
VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN INCREASED UNDER THE RULE OF AKP
Femicides increased by 1400%, between 2002 and 2012, during the rule of AKP. Measures against this serious situation are not enough; the police forces are not educated, the idea that "women belongs to their men", taking its source from Islam, is growingly effective in any levels of police departments and legal system. Women threatened by their ex-husbands or ex-boyfriends are not protected seriously. Still, despite the growing problem of femicides, courts abate the punishment for murderers who have killed their wives or girlfriends due to "good conduct, good relations, having dressed with suitcase during the court." This approach is related to the approach of political authorities. For example, in 2011, Erdoğan said in a meeting that "violence against women is exaggerated."
