Abusing Turkey's children sexually and mentally

Stories of the sexual abuse of minors have been pouring in for the last couple of weeks. In almost every case, the molester is a character that the child should be trusting: A teacher, an imam or a family member such as an uncle.

The number of child abuse cases has not significantly increased recently, however a major case involving an Islamist foundation has brought the issue onto the agenda. With many more people showing an interest in the suffering of children, cases which would have gone unnoticed in the past now make their way to social media, newspapers and televisions.

What made a big difference was a case in the Central Anatolian province of Karaman. A teacher was arrested for the alleged sexual abuse of the eight male students in Karaman. The teacher had been teaching private courses for students in apartments rented by the provincial branch of the Ensar Foundation, a foundation with very close links to the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP). Although the official allegations are for eight cases, it is believed that the number of minor victims could be as high as 45.

The public uproar reached its peak when the foundation denied any responsibility, although the children were entrusted to it and the houses hired by the foundation to accommodate the children were in fact illegal. The foundation should be held accountable for creating an environment that led to the sexual abuse of the children and measures should be taken to prevent perverts from infiltrating into its system.

Not only did the Ensar Foundation fail to do that, but it also received the support of the government and the ruling party.

A motion by the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) to establish a parliamentary panel to investigate the child abuse...