Khaberni - A judicial ruling has shaken the human rights community in Turkey in a case that human rights advocates consider a "scandal" requiring the imposition of oversight on private educational institutions in the country, according to Turkish media.
In the details, the First Criminal Court in Kocaeli Province sentenced a teacher named M.A. to 130 years in prison for sexually exploiting six students within a private school.
The court did not reduce the sentence of the accused, who was acquitted from the charge of "threatening" the children.
The 45-year-old teacher, the families of the victims, and their lawyers attended the session.
The victims' families demanded the maximum punishment for the teacher, noting the continuation of their complaints, a matter that has been addressed by social media users in the country who are demanding heavier penalties for the accused.
The victims' lawyers stated that the accused exploited the children for more than two years, demanding the maximum charges for each child and no reduction in the sentences.
On the other hand, the defendant's lawyers requested a review of their applications to conduct field investigations and witness interrogations, or the acquittal of the defendant from the charges against him if that was not agreed upon.
The suspects alleged that the accounts do not reflect the truth and that he has not made any sexual advances towards anyone, contrary to the official narrative of the victims' families.
The defendant added that the situations mentioned in the students' statements did not occur with him and that he is being framed, claiming: "I have never behaved like this in my life. I am a good father, a good husband, and a good teacher. I did none of these things and my conscience is clear. Therefore, I demand my innocence."
The court decided to imprison the defendant for 130 years as the defendant is a teacher and has committed the crime more than once, as well as full sexual exploitation of at least one child.
This incident has highlighted similar incidents that have occurred in schools in Turkey, where human rights advocates, including directors of associations concerned with children's rights, are demanding more oversight on private and religious schools, especially those where children are sexually exploited.
