MEDİNE MAMEDOĞLU

Mêrdin –Along with the femicide cases, the cases of child sexual abuse and sexual abuse against women are increasing in Turkey every day. According to the 2018 report of the Human Rights Association (IHD), Turkey ranked third in the highest prevalence rate of child sexual abuse all around the world. In Turkey, where child abuse cannot be prevented, the perpetrators of child abuse go unpunished.

The child told her teacher

A man named Kemal Bilem was reportedly systematically sexually abused a child in the Kabala neighborhood of Mardin province. The child told the school counselor that she was sexually abused by Kemal Bilem. The counselor reported the sexual abuse to the Child Monitoring Center. According to the received reports, the child had been subjected to sexual abuse by the man more than 25 times.

An arrest warrant was issued for the perpetrator

Suspect Kemal Bilem was taken into custody on January 10 after the statement of the child. Kemal Bilem was sent to prison on the charges of “sexually abusing a child” on January 11. Only the mother of the victim has been reportedly filed a criminal complaint against Kemal Bilem while the other family members remain silent. An indictment was prepared into the incident by the Mardin Chief Public Prosecutor's Office. In the indictment, Kemal Bilem has been accused of committing this crime many times and sufficient suspicion and evidence have been found to file a public lawsuit against him.

The perpetrator released one month later

After the indictment, a preliminary proceedings report was prepared in February by the Mardin 1^st High Criminal Court. According to the report of the preliminary proceedings, the court ruled the release of Kemal Bilem because “there is no suspicion about the possible escape of the perpetrator and due to the contradictory statements of the victim.”

The perpetrator has been released one month after being arrested. The first hearing of the sexual abuse trial will be held on June 23.