JINHA

KARAMAN - The first trial of a 54-year-old teacher accused of sexually abusing 10 children in what are alleged to be guesthouses run illegally by two Islamic foundations the Ensar Foundation, has close links to the Turkish government, and the Kaimder has begun in Karaman. The court decided to accept the Ensar Foundation and Kaimder as joint plaintiffs to the case. Many people gathered in front of the Courthouse and shout "Don't absolve rapist Ensar".

The first trial of Muharrem B. (54), who is a teacher accused of sexually abusing 10 children in what are alleged to be guesthouses run illegally by the Ensar Foundation and Kaimder, has begun in Karaman Criminal Court. The court decided to accept the Ensar Foundation and Kaimder as joint plaintiffs to the case. The defendant Muharrem B. will join the trial via SEGBIS (Audiovisual Communications Systems). The Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) MPs Dilan Dirayet Taşdemir and Mizgin Irgat, the Republican People's Party (CHP) MP Lale Karabıyık and many other representatives have followed the trial. The court decided to accept the İstanbul, Ankara, Diyarbakır, Karaman and many other Bar Associations as joint plaintiffs to the case. However, the court decided to reject the NGOs, representatives and women associations as joint plaintiffs to the case.

Muharrem B. was arrested on March 5 accused of sexually abusing 10 children in what are alleged to be guesthouses run illegally Ensar Foundation.

Meanwhile, thousands of people tweeted under the hashtag #StopChildAbuseinTurkey or #ŞimdiEnsarıKapatmaVakti while the trial has continued.

(de/sy/gd)