H.K.G. case: The request that H.K.G herself should be directly heard at the court was rejected

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The fourth hearing of the case related to Yusuf Ziya G., the founder of the Hiranur Foundation linked to the İsmailağa religious sect forcing his 6-year-old girl H.K.G. into "marriage" with 29-year-old Kadir İ. and the systematic abuse that followed this for years was held at the 2nd Heavy Penal Court at the Anatolian courthouse in İstanbul. 

The panel of judges rejected the request of the lawyers of H.K.G. that she should be directly heard at the court. 

The prosecutor indicated that he wanted to prepare his indictment. No judgment was rendered. 

The next hearing of the case will be held on July 17. 

Yusuf Ziya G. and Kadir İ. are imprisoned, and the mother, Fatıma G. is standing trial without arrest.  

The İstanbul Anadolu Chief Prosecutor's office had prepared an indictment requesting the imprisonment of Kadir İ. for no less than 30 years for "sexual abuse of the child," "major sexual assault," and imprisonment of no less than 18 years for father Yusuf Ziya G. and mother Fatıma G. for "major sexual abuse of the child."

Women's organizations met in front of the courthouse before the hearing and talked to the press. 

Here Rüya Kurtuluş from the initiative called Women Are Strong Together said, "H.G.K. is not alone. We will continue to stand by her in her struggle. The day this hearing was held, the parliament was also opened with MPs who are misogynists. We will also be struggling against them." 

Ömür Kargın from the We will stop the Femicides Platform has also spoken. 

Kargın said, "We are here today at the courthouse for a woman who was abused since she was 6 years old. Wher the question "A child under which criteria?" leads us is the encouragement of child abuse." 

Newly elected Antep MP of the Labour Party (EMEP) Sevda Karaca was the last to talk. 

Karaca said, “Women have followed this case carefully since the beginning. Because the marriage of a six-year-old child by the religious sects shows us that no child is safe in this country." 

"There are now those in the parliament who do not want women in their corridors. We know that this Parliament is one which wants to justify child abuse. We are here today. H.G.K. is not alone." 

(EMK/PE)