More than 91,000 under-aged Turkish girls impregnated within seven years

ANKARA

Istanbul tops the list with 6,586 cases, followed by İzmir.

Some 91,208 Turkish girls under the age of 18 have been impregnated in the last 7 years, according to figures provided by the Health Ministry, highlighting the deep problem of child marriage the country faces.

“Istanbul topped the list with 6,586 cases followed by İzmir, which had 5,714 cases,” Minister Mehmet Müezzinoğlu said in a response to a parliamentary question by the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP). The southeastern province of Tunceli remained the least problematic province with a mere 32 cases, the Health Ministry figures showed.

Data collected from Child Watch Centers in 13 provinces showed 2,792 children faced sexual abuse last year, while 263 were victims of underage marriages.

The minister’s response read that a notice was sent to health institutions to report to the local courts if there were any pregnancy cases involving unmarried girls under the age of 18. The notice also said health institutions should look for any signs of forcefulness and violence involving pregnant girls over the age of 15.

However, the minister acknowledged they do not have any information in the number of such cases so far.