ISTANBUL - The hearing of the case filed regarding the marriage of H.K.G., the 6-year-old daughter of Yusuf Ziya Gümüşel, the founder of the Hiranur Foundation affiliated with the İsmailağa Congregation, and exposing her to rape for years, was postponed to July 16.

 

The second hearing of the case filed regarding the rape of H.K.G., the daughter of Yusuf Ziya Gümüşel, the founder of the Hiranur Foundation affiliated with the İsmailağa Cogregation, by "marrying" her at the age of 6 to his 29-year-old disciple Kadir İstekli, was held at the Istanbul 2nd High Criminal Court, after it was overturned at the appeal. 

 

At the hearing of the case, which had a confidentiality order, an opinion was given regarding the decision, which was overturned on the grounds that the penalty was increased. While it was decided to continue the detention of the defendants, the hearing was postponed to July 16.

 

WHAT HAPPENED?

 

H.K.G., the daughter of Yusuf Ziya Gümüşel, the founder of the Hiranur Foundation, filed a complaint, saying that she was "married" to 29-year-old "disciple" Kadir İstekli when she was 6 years old. H.K.G, who said that she was raped throughout her childhood, stated that this was told to her as if it was a game.

 

In the indictment prepared within the scope of the investigation carried out by the Anatolian Chief Public Prosecutor's Office upon the complaint, Kadir İstekli was sentenced to 67 years, 10 months and 15 days; A prison sentence of 22 years and 6 months was demanded for father Yusuf Ziya Gümüşel and mother Fatima Gümüşel. Just a few days before the first hearing, the place of duty of Prosecutor Ercan Ateş, who wrote the indictment, was changed. All identity information was changed in accordance with the demand of H.K.G. The Forensic Medicine Institute determined that H.K.G.'s mental health deteriorated due to the incident she experienced. The Ministry of Family and Social Services requested that the first pre-trial hearing be closed to the public and a broadcast ban decision be issued.

 

BROADCAST BAN 

 

lawsuit was filed for prison sentence of up to 22 years and 6 months is requested for father Yusuf Ziya Gümüşel and mother Fatima Gümüşel on the charge of "sexual abuse of a child", and a prison sentence of up to 67 years 10 months and 15 days is requested for Kadir İstekli on charges of "sexual abuse of a child" and "sexual assault". At the first hearing of the case on January 31, the court decided that the hearing would continue closed to the press and a publication ban was imposed.

 

PENALTIES IMPOSED

 

At the decision hearing of the case held on October 23, 2023, the defendant Kadir İstekli was sentenced to 30 years in prison, Yusuf Ziya Gümüşel to 20 years and Fatima Gümüşel to 16 years and 8 months in prison. Following the decision, H.K.G.'s lawyer, the defendants' lawyer, the lawyer of the Ministry of Family and Social Services and the Public Prosecutor took the file to appeal.

 

DECISION REVERSED ON APPEAL

 

Examining the file, the 20th Criminal Chamber of the Istanbul Regional Court of Justice stated that although Kadir İstekli should have been punished for "Qualified sexual abuse of a child" for the years 2004-2013 and "Qualified sexual assault against his spouse" for 2020, he was sentenced for a single crime. It was stated that the prison sentences given to H.K.G.'s mother, Fatima Gümüşel, and his father, Yusuf Ziya Gümüşel, should be increased in accordance with the law because they are mothers and fathers, and it was decided to overturn the decision in terms of procedure and substance.

 

The decision is expected to be given at the third hearing of the case, which will be held on July 16.