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A court decision to release two men convicted of sexually assaulting a young woman on a central street in Istanbul has triggered public outrage and renewed debate about how Türkiye handles cases of violence against women.
The ruling concerns an incident recorded by surveillance cameras in the Beyoglu district on Sept. 23, 2024, which had caused nationwide anger when the footage first circulated.
According to the indictment and court records, 25-year-old Iremsan A. was walking home when she was confronted by two men, identified as Semir Tarhan, 31, and Omer Konu, 27.
Tarhan pushed her to the ground and assaulted her while Konu watched the surroundings and acted as a lookout. Passersby intervened and pulled the attackers away.
The suspects were first taken into custody, then released, and later re-arrested following widespread public reaction and pressure from women’s rights groups.
The Istanbul court sentenced Tarhan to nine years in prison and Konu to seven years and six months for “sexual assault committed with more than one person.”
Both were acquitted of the separate charge of “deprivation of liberty,” with the court saying legal conditions for that offence had not been met.
The court also noted the defendants’ past convictions, stating that Tarhan had previous entries for sexual assault, resistance, drug use, and robbery, while Konu had records for sexual assault, intentional injury, resistance, and car theft.
Despite this background, the judges ruled that both men should be released because they had spent about 13 months in pretrial detention. The decision meant the two men left custody immediately after the ruling.
Reports stated that if the verdict is upheld on appeal, Tarhan will be required to serve an additional four years and eight months, while Konu will serve an additional three years and six months.
Lawyer Cagla Gul Bulut criticized the ruling, saying that even a preliminary calculation of conditional release rules shows that someone sentenced to nine years should serve at least four and a half years.
She added that a seven-year six-month sentence should require at least three years nine months. “Their release after roughly one year cannot be explained legally or morally,” she told Cumhuriyet.
Bulut also underlined that both men have prior convictions and have committed similar offences before. She warned that early releases in such cases create a public risk if comparable crimes occur again and said this responsibility should not be overlooked.
In her words, “These individuals are convicted offenders who have committed the same crime in the past. Early releases of this kind create a societal burden if similar crimes are repeated. This decision emboldens offenders and frightens women. It cannot be reconciled with conscience or law.”
During the hearing, Iremsan A. appeared before the court and said she did not wish to pursue her complaint.
The trial continued because under Turkish criminal procedure, prosecutors can pursue sexual assault charges without the complainant’s request once an indictment has been issued. The Family and Social Services Ministry also took part in the proceedings.
The judges delivered their verdict after hearing final statements from the defendants, who asked for their release and acquittal.
According to earlier case documents and reporting, the assault took place around 04.00 as the survivor was walking back home.
The attackers blocked her path, with Tarhan forcing her to the ground while Konu watched the surroundings. People nearby stepped in after seeing the attack and helped the woman escape as footage of the incident spread rapidly on social media.
The first release of the suspects in 2024 triggered protests and renewed criticism of the authorities’ response to violence against women. Prosecutors later sought heavy sentences.
In the original indictment, Tarhan faced 13.5 to 36 years for sexual assault and deprivation of liberty, while Konu faced six to 21 years.
Another version of the indictment requested 10 years, six months to 30 years for each suspect for the same offences. Although the final sentences were shorter, the convictions confirmed that both men committed sexual assault.
Women’s rights organizations say the ruling adds to concerns about uneven enforcement, short detentions, and early releases in cases involving violence against women. They argue that the Beyoglu case fits a broader pattern in which punishment does not match the seriousness of the crime.
The release of Tarhan and Konu is now under appeal, but the immediate decision has already intensified public debate. Activists say the ruling sends the wrong message at a time when many women in Türkiye question whether the justice system offers effective protection.
For now, both men remain free while the appeals process continues.
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