Khaberni - An elderly Turkish defendant, known as "Grandfather of the Refugees," faces a prison sentence of up to 35 years for his involvement in sexual assaults targeting Syrian refugee women and the needy who visited his store seeking humanitarian aid.
The indictment prepared by the public prosecutor's office reveals that the defendant, named Saad Eddin Karagoz, established a facility named "Umut Hair Shop" in 2014, aimed at providing basic necessities such as food, clothing, fuel, and stationery to needy families.
The investigations clarified that the victims, including the ladies (F. M.) and (S. H. M.), who are Syrian refugees that had come to Ankara years ago, were assaulted and harassed by the defendant during their visits to the store for relief aids.
According to the testimonies of the victims, the accused attempted to bargain with them, offering monetary sums in exchange for illicit relations.
The indictment pointed out that, due to their desperate need and severe poverty, they continued visiting the store for a period ranging from 5 to 6 years, during which they suffered repeated sexual assaults by the defendant, who exploited their vulnerability and helplessness.
The indictment included testimony from an eyewitness named (A. H.), who stated she used to visit the association with other women from the neighborhood due to her husband's blindness.
The witness confirmed that the accused personally chose the women he would assist, noting that she witnessed unethical behavior and physical assaults against some women, prompting her to stop going there out of fear, while others were forced to remain silent due to extreme poverty.
On his part, the elderly Turkish man denied all charges against him, claiming that he dedicated his life to charitable works after his retirement, and that his role was limited to distributing donations from wealthy citizens to refugees in his warehouse. However, the public prosecutor's office, after evaluating all evidence and testimonies, saw that the crime took a "serial" nature (ongoing crime), and sought a 35-year prison sentence for him on charges of "simple sexual assault" in a case that has been occupying public opinion in Turkey for months.
The 62nd Criminal Court of First Instance in Ankara accepted the indictment, and the trial proceedings are scheduled to begin in the coming period.
Despite this, Karagoz, a former bank employee, denies all allegations. In a previous interview with "BBC" Turkish, he stated that he has assisted more than 37,000 people, most of them refugees, in his store so far. Over the years, Karagoz's store became known and was awarded by a local newspaper in 2020. Some media outlets covered his activities.
Karagoz says his store has received support from local and international organizations. He confirms that the aid distribution area is small and crowded, monitored by security cameras, so it is impossible for him to be alone with any woman there.
However, three women spoke with "BBC," including one of the complainants, accusing Saad Eddin Karagoz of sexual assault and harassment. Seven people, including two former employees at the store, said they witnessed or directly heard about Karagoz's sexual exploitation of women between 2016-2024.
The assistance store founded by Saad Eddin Karagoz in 2014 is located in Altindag neighborhood, known as "Little Aleppo," where thousands of Syrians live. In Turkey, which has hosted millions fleeing conflicts, such charitable initiatives can be a lifeline, especially for unemployed women.
A lady who fled to Turkey in 2016 after the war reached her city of Aleppo, one of her three children became seriously ill, and her husband left her. She says she needed help and was directed by everyone to Karagoz's "Umut Hair Shop." She recounts how initially Karagoz told her, "My door is always open for you. If you have nowhere to go, come to me, and I will help you." But during her subsequent visit to the store, Karagoz changed, according to her. She noticed that he touched women without their permission, and he also touched her. However, during her last visit, the situation escalated.
She says that Karagoz took her behind a curtain in the store under the pretense of giving her aid: "He grabbed me and said he liked me. He began kissing me. I screamed and asked him to let me go. If I hadn't screamed, it might have turned into rape."
The Syrian woman fled the store and threatened Karagoz with going to the police, but he tried to convince her by saying, "Come by my side." She says that Karagoz banged on the door of her home, which she shares with her children, one day forcefully, demanding her to open it: "He said terrifying things, and insulted me... I did not open the door, I was terrified." And she recounts, crying, that Karagoz threatened to send her back to Syria. She was afraid of what might happen and never went to the police or told anyone what happened.
It should be noted that these are not the first allegations against Karagoz. He has been interrogated by the police at least twice until now. According to official documents, a woman filed a complaint against Karagoz in 2019 for harassment and sexual assault. However, due to lack of evidence, a decision was made not to pursue the case.
In 2022, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees conducted secret interviews with some women after learning about the allegations. In 2025, the police raided the store and questioned Karagoz regarding a new allegation of sexual exploitation.
UN sources and the police say they take the allegations seriously, but the victims and witnesses are unwilling to file complaints. The women who spoke to "BBC" said the reason is that they do not feel safe. They fear being targeted or deported.
