Second Hearing Day in the Case of Assault and Harassment of Women on Galata Bridge

The incident took place on the Galata Bridge in Eminönü on December 31, 2024. Allegedly, Aslıhan Yıldırım (29) and her sister Gözde Yıldırım (26), who came to Istanbul from Bursa for a holiday, were allegedly verbally harassed by 5 people on the Galata Bridge while going from their hotel in Karaköy to Eminönü.

The brothers encountered the same group again when they returned to the hotel after eating fish and bread, this time they were subjected to insults and curses. Aslıhan Yıldırım was attacked with punches when she turned her head to see who was swearing. Yıldırım's nose was broken by Baran B. after he was hit.

Claiming that the suspects tried to escape from the scene, the license plate was removed and placed on the vehicle, and the suspects tried to take his phone away from him, Yıldırım also said that one of the suspects was a nurse.

4 OUT OF 5 SUSPECTS WERE RELEASED WITH JUDICIAL CONTROL; 1 PERSON DIED

Yıldırım claimed that the person who attacked him in the incident was Baran B., the person who rented the vehicle and helped hide the license plate was Ahmet K., the person who harassed him and tried to take his phone was İbrahim Mecit A., and the person who helped hide the license plate was Adnan C.. He claimed that the other suspect, Doğukan Ö., tried to prevent the person who carried out the attack after the incident.

It was learned that the suspects Baran B. and Doğukan Ö. were arrested and released at the first hearing. Suspects Ahmet K. and İbrahim M. A. were released on condition of judicial control after the incident. It was learned that Adnan C. (17), who was involved in the incident, died 2 months ago.

ARRESTED FOR OTHER CRIMES

On the other hand, it was learned that the suspects Baran B. (19) and Doğukan Ö. (24) are still detained for 'drug dealing' and different crimes. Ahmet K. (27) and İbrahim M. A. (28), who were detained in the same incident, were released on condition of judicial control after their statements were taken.

'I WAS PUNCHED IN MY NOSE AS I LOOKED'

Explaining what she experienced on the day of the incident, Aslıhan Yıldırım said, "I came to Istanbul from Bursa on 31.12.2024 with my sister, for sightseeing and holiday purposes. We were attacked by 5 suspects we did not know, while leaving the hotel we stayed in Karaköy and going to eat fish and bread in Eminönü. They harassed us while passing by, but since we did not see them, we did not make any move, did not respond, did not respond, we continued on our way. It is seen in the footage that they harassed us. While we were entering the bridge, they harassed us and poked each other.

Then there is 45 minutes and 1 hour in between. After eating fish and bread, while we were about to go back to the hotel where we were staying, my sister and I said very inappropriate words to us and insulted us because we did not respond. They swore at me and said, 'Fuck a woman like you... fuck your pussy... fuck your adjective.' So I turned my head and looked to see who was swearing. By the time I looked, I had already been punched. With that punch, I flew into a car.

Afterwards, I leaned my back against the bridge to call 112 and call the police to the scene. While I was calling the police, they tried to escape. When we wanted to take the image of the vehicle and its license plate, these 3 people stood in front of the license plate, removed the license plate and put it inside the vehicle. They prevented us from seeing. Moreover, one of them, a nurse, looked at us and mocked us and did not call the 112 Emergency Call Center or provide any help. "One of them tried to steal my phone and deprived me of my freedom," he said.

'I HAVE BEEN STRUGGLING FOR 2 YEARS'

Yıldırım said, "There is a second hearing on this. It will be heard at the 37th Criminal Court of First Instance of the Istanbul Palace of Justice on September 24, at 09:50. A month later, two years will be read about this incident. I have been fighting for this for 2 years. I am afraid, both for myself and for the people living here; because I do not want to be the victim of a femicide, I do not want another woman to be the victim, I do not want another mother to cry, and I demand that they be punished to the maximum limit.

I really invite the authorities to empathy. When we go out on the street, do we have to be suspicious of the individuals walking behind us or do we have to live in fear? Why doesn't anyone do anything? Why do we have to be afraid or are we forced to live in fear? "I lived in serious fear, I couldn't go out, I couldn't go to work for months, I couldn't perform my duties."

'I WAS THREATENED AFTER THE FIRST HEARING'

When I tried to go out, my brothers were with me. I was always suspicious of the people around me, wondering if they would do something to me or attack me from here. I was also left in fear of other people for no blameless reason. These people could have killed me regarding the incident. They were not content with just breaking his nose, because I was also threatened after the incident. I was threatened after the first hearing, and they even told me to do more.

Since I am alive now, of course I am seeking justice with my own voice, but I do not want to be included in the list of femicide. These people have unlicensed weapons, and currently 2 people are detained for 'drug dealing' and various crimes. "I invite the authorities to take action," he said.

'THEY HIT OTHERS TOO; CRIME RECORDS ARE AVAILABLE'

Yılmaz said, "I had surgery twice because of my nose, but my nose is still broken and cannot be fixed. I can't smell or breathe, I've lost these sense organs. I am in serious financial and moral difficulties for my third surgery, and I don't know how it will happen. 5 suspicious persons, or rather 4 at the moment, because one of them is dead; I demand that they be punished to the maximum extent.

If I cannot walk freely on the street, neither can another person. They have also beaten others, there are images of this, and even criminal records. They also have posts on social media stating that they possess unlicensed weapons, normalize rape, and engage in drug dealing; Social media accounts are open to everyone anyway. These things I mentioned were added to the case file, of course the prosecutor's office is available in the UYAP system.

No one can delete this information, and I will not have it deleted. Moreover, 2 weeks before the incident, two people were detained for drug dealing and drug possession, and they already have criminal records regarding this. These people should be punished at the maximum limit, without any reduction. If there is even a modicum of justice and justice in this country, if there is any sense of compassion for humanity, these individuals should be punished at the maximum limit.

They should never be released onto the streets. I can fit the 2 years of my life into 5 minutes, but my life is not a file number, I am not a file, I did not want to be the subject of the court. "Persons attacked us even though we did not know them, God knows what they will do to those they know," he said.

'MINGUZZI FAMILY HELPED'

Yıldırım stated that the family of the murdered Mattia Ahmet Minguzzi (15) was among those who supported him throughout his life, and said, "People who experienced the pain helped me more, they told me what I needed to do to make my voice heard. Thanks to Ahmet Minguzzi's family, they helped me and explained what I should do and where I should apply. "If there is justice in this country, it will of course be manifested one day, divine justice will also be manifested, I believe, but I do not want to lose my faith in this country," he said.

THEY WILL COME IN FRONT OF THE JUDGE FOR THE SECOND TIME

The two suspects appear before the judge for the second time on Thursday, September 24. The second hearing of the case opened upon the complaint of Aslıhan Yıldırım and her sister Gözde Yıldırım is being held at the Istanbul Palace of Justice 37th Criminal Court of First Instance. At the hearing, Yıldırım will demand that the suspects be arrested separately and punished to the maximum extent.