Investigation launched into Quran teacher’s rape remarks

TOKAT - Doğan News Agency

DHA Photo

An investigation has been launched into a high school teacher’s remarks to a class in the northern province of Tokat, in which she said female students “deserve rape” for not wearing an Islamic scarf.

Two inspectors have been given the task of investigating the teacher of compulsory religious education classes, after parents filed a criminal complaint with the local Public Prosecutor’s Office in Tokat. 

Tokat Governor Cevdet Can commented on the teacher’s remarks, saying the necessary measures were being taken regarding the incident.

Provincial Education Director Levent Yazıcı said the teacher, identified only by the initials L.Y.İ., had been appointed to another school of her own will following the complaints.

A number of parents claimed that the teacher told female students at the Halil Rıfat Paşa Middle School on March 9 that they “deserve rape” for not wearing an Islamic headscarf, after becoming angry because they were talking among themselves during class.

She also allegedly told students that they should have prayed for Özgecan Aslan - whose brutal murder in southern Turkey on Feb. 13 caused national outrage - instead of going to demonstrations to commemorate her.

“You took part in demonstrations with great eagerness. Now she is buried underground. Did you pray for her? You will be like Özgecan,” L.Y.İ. allegedly told the students.

Mahmut Demirbağ, the school’s headmaster, has reportedly told parents that the teacher “apologized” for her comments. However, anxious families have continued to demand the dismissal of the teacher and have now taken legal action.