Police tried to persuade the father, Rüstem Ezer, to unchain himself but were unsuccessful. Later officers cut the chains and detained him.Ezer (42) married Laura Colleter (34) from France after he went to France to work. The couple had a son, Kayhan, and a daughter, Evin. Colleter filed for divorce in 2007 reportedly because of pressure from her family. A French court gave her custody of the children while Ezer was allowed to see them every other weekend. During one of the visits with his children, Ezer kidnapped them and brought them to İstanbul. Searching for her children, Colleter found the address where Ezer and the kids were living and took her daughter as she was playing outside the house. After discovering that his daughter was taken by his ex-wife, Ezer immediately applied to the Bakırköy Public Prosecutor’s Office, and an arrest warrant was issued. Colleter was caught at the Ankara International Esenboğa Airport as she was about to get on a plane to Paris. Later, both children were put in different state dorms in Halkalı and Eyüp. Meanwhile, Ezer filed a custody case in İstanbul, where the court ruled to give custody to the mother. The father filed a case at the Supreme Court of Appeals, and the mother and children were placed in the French Consulate in İstanbul until the case is finalized.
Ezer previously protested not being able to see his children. Carrying his children’s photos in his hands, Ezer said all he wants is to see them.
