Khaberni - In an unprecedented legal development in Turkey, the Court of Cassation ruled that a man must pay financial and emotional compensation to his ex-wife after she discovered during the divorce proceedings that he had saved her number on his mobile phone with the nickname "Tombik", a term used in Turkish to describe a fat person in a sarcastic or insulting way.
The case began in the state of Uşak, when the wife was surprised during the divorce sessions to find this insulting description accompanying her name in the husband's phone, which prompted her to file a formal complaint, considering that this act does not fall under jest or spontaneity but is considered a form of verbal bullying and psychological abuse.
She argued that the nickname caused her emotional shock and deepened the disputes between them until the relationship reached a deadlock.
After reviewing the facts, the court saw that choosing this nickname was not devoid of a clear intention to insult, and not just a casual behavior.
The court concluded that the use of hurtful descriptions in digital mediums as contact names could be considered as evidence of abuse, especially if it has documented psychological effects.
Consequently, the court issued a ruling in favor of the wife for financial compensation, the details of which were not disclosed.
The verdict sparked a wide wave of reaction in the media and social media platforms within Turkey, with opinions divided between supporters who considered the decision a positive step for protecting women's dignity within marital relationships, and opponents who saw that such descriptions might sometimes be used in a beloved or sarcastic manner without intending to insult.
The Turkish newspaper "Haberler" reported that some voices criticized turning what they described as a "simple personal dispute" into a legal case, questioning the boundaries of privacy within marital relations, while others emphasized the necessity to counter all forms of insult, no matter how small or jocularly wrapped.
Legal experts believe that the ruling sets a judicial precedent in Turkey, as it opens the door to considering digital behaviors and everyday words as concrete evidence of emotional harm within relationships, and it reinforces the principle that mutual respect is not limited to major actions but includes details that might seem minor but can have a deep psychological impact.
