Alleged involvement of Turkish security forces in rape of 15-year-old girl sparks outrage

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — Allegations of Turkish security forces member involvement in the gang rape of a 15-year-old girl in the Kurdish-majority province of Batman has angered many social media users and politicians in Turkey, with the government denying the claims.

Jin news agency, a feminist media outlet, reported on Saturday that a group of 27 people, including police officers, specialized sergeants and village guards were involved in the rape of a 15-year-old girl in Gercus district in Batman.

It added that the rape was brought to light after the girl went to the hospital for abdominal pain and was found to be pregnant.

Hours later, Batman Public Prosecutor’s office said in a statement that a child visited their office on November 12, and reported that “she had been raped and impregnated.”

Police say they were able to detain a suspect on November 13, according to the office, which denied claims that any police officers or state employees were involved in the incident. The statement also noted that a confidentiality order had been placed on the case, prohibiting media from reporting on it.

On Sunday, the Batman governor’s office slammed media agencies and social media accounts reporting that security force members were involved, accusing them of having links to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). The statement added that investigations will be launched against anyone “who publishes fake news.”

The PKK is an armed group struggling for the increased cultural and political rights of Kurds in Turkey.

Following news of the crime, scores of people, including politicians from the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP), took to social media and launched the #GercüşteNeOluyor hashtag, which translates to ‘what is happening in Gercus.’

“The government’s impunity policy does not prevent or protect, but encourages [rape]. Keep your hands away from the bodies of children,” tweeted Necdet Ipekyuz, HDP lawmaker for Batman province.

The HDP office in Istanbul’s central Fatih district slammed the Batman Public Prosecutor’s office for only detaining one person, also claiming members of security forces were also involved in the gang rape.

“A 15-year-old child was impregnated. Among a total of 27 [suspected] men, including special sergeants, police and village guards, only one has been detained. The prosecutor’s office was not satisfied with this and ordered to make the case confidential and ban its coverage,” reads a tweet from the office.

Turkish interior minister Suleyman Soylu posted a screenshot of this tweet and the statement from Batman governor’s office, accusing the HDP of “creating a nest from lies.”

The HDP’s women’s council held a gathering in Batman on Monday, saying they oppose “the daily violence against women and rape of children.”

This is not the first time that the alleged involvement of members of security forces in rape cases has sparked controversy and anger in Turkey.

A Turkish specialized sergeant, Musa Orhan, was detained in August for raping a 18-year-old Kurdish woman in Batman. The woman had committed suicide after the rape, but the suspect was later released by a court.

One month earlier, a Turkish soldier was accused of raping a 10-year-old Kurdish girl in Sirnak province. Rizgin Birlik, an AKP parliamentarian, had told Rudaw English that the man was a "drunk soldier who was not on duty."

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