Turkish dailies reported on Monday that eight minors aged 13 and 14 raped two toddlers aged 2 and 3, killing one of them, last year in Siirt. A previous Siirt rape incident was uncovered last week, in which two sisters were raped by dozens of men over the course of two years.Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Education Minister Nimet Çubukçu talked to reporters on Monday about the issue, with both saying the media should be more careful about covering the incidents.
“The incident [concerning the two toddlers] occurred one year ago, and all steps were taken concerning the people who were involved. Our education minister, state minister for family and women affairs and the Siirt governor made the necessary statements. … Yet, the issue is brought to the agenda again. This is not what journalism is about. This is not the rationale of the media. This does not go with media ethics. On the contrary, this causes psychological damage to people related to Siirt and the people who are involved. I think we need to be very careful about this,” Erdoğan said, talking to reporters in Parliament on Monday.
Education Minister Çubukçu said she was deeply shaken by the incident as a woman and a mother.
“There will not be even a little tolerance on the issue. … Seeing the autopsy photos of the little girl [3-year-old toddler who was killed after being raped] freezes my blood as much as the incident. It is sad that the media that mention international standards in every issue make news stories without considering the trauma it may cause to the people involved.” She also added that the detailed explanation of the events may encourage pedophiles.
Meanwhile, Republican People’s Party (CHP) İstanbul deputy Mehmet Sevigen said yesterday in a press conference at Parliament that Çubukçu and Aliye Kavaf, the state minister for family and women affairs, must resign from their posts because they were unable to deal with the rape incidents in Siirt.
