A Turkish charity owner at the centre of sexual abuse allegations, brought to light by a BBC investigation, has been arrested. BBC News Turkish revealed accusations that Sadettin Karagoz sexually exploited vulnerable women, promising them aid in return for sex. He denies all the allegations.
Mr. Karagoz set up his charity in Turkey's capital, Ankara, in 2014. Syrian refugees desperate for help said at first he seemed like an angel. One of them, Madina, fled the Syrian civil war in 2016 and said that two years later, one of her children became critically ill and her husband abandoned her. Her name has been changed to protect her anonymity.
Left to care for three children alone, she went to Sadettin Karagoz's organisation, which translates as the Hope Charity Store. It gathers donations for refugees such as nappies, pasta, milk and clothes. He told me: 'When you have nowhere to go, come to me and I will look after you,' she says.
But when she did, Madina says he changed. She describes how Mr. Karagoz told her to go with him to an area in the office behind a curtain to get some supplies. He grabbed me, she says. He started kissing me… I told him to get away from me. If I hadn't yelled, he would have tried to rape me.
Madina describes how she escaped from the building but Mr. Karagoz later went to her home. I didn't open the door because I was terrified, she says, explaining that he threatened to have her sent back to Syria. Scared of repercussions, Madina says she never went to the police and did not tell anyone else what had happened.
According to 27-year-old Syrian refugee Nada, he said he would only give her aid if she went to an empty flat with him. If you don't, I won't give you anything, she says. Again, her name has been changed to protect her anonymity. She was with her sister-in-law and says they stormed out. But desperate to provide for her family, she explains she didn't know where else to turn, so went back.
On one occasion, Nada says Mr. Karagoz took her behind a curtain to get nappies for her son where he tried to touch my breasts. Another time, she says that he came from behind and grabbed my hand… he forced me to touch his genitals. Afraid of the stigma attached to sexual abuse and scared she would be blamed, Nada says she didn't feel she could tell anyone, even her husband.
Batoul, another victim, described how a similar encounter scared her and led to isolation. These testimonies are part of a disturbing trend that has also seen Karagoz face allegations previously, although complaints were often thwarted by fear of stigma and repercussions.
Despite his denials, the testimonies led to his arrest and there is hope among the victims that this action will empower others to speak out about their experiences. Batoul expressed her happiness over his arrest, stating it brings strength and courage to others suffering in silence.
Mr. Karagoz set up his charity in Turkey's capital, Ankara, in 2014. Syrian refugees desperate for help said at first he seemed like an angel. One of them, Madina, fled the Syrian civil war in 2016 and said that two years later, one of her children became critically ill and her husband abandoned her. Her name has been changed to protect her anonymity.
Left to care for three children alone, she went to Sadettin Karagoz's organisation, which translates as the Hope Charity Store. It gathers donations for refugees such as nappies, pasta, milk and clothes. He told me: 'When you have nowhere to go, come to me and I will look after you,' she says.
But when she did, Madina says he changed. She describes how Mr. Karagoz told her to go with him to an area in the office behind a curtain to get some supplies. He grabbed me, she says. He started kissing me… I told him to get away from me. If I hadn't yelled, he would have tried to rape me.
Madina describes how she escaped from the building but Mr. Karagoz later went to her home. I didn't open the door because I was terrified, she says, explaining that he threatened to have her sent back to Syria. Scared of repercussions, Madina says she never went to the police and did not tell anyone else what had happened.
According to 27-year-old Syrian refugee Nada, he said he would only give her aid if she went to an empty flat with him. If you don't, I won't give you anything, she says. Again, her name has been changed to protect her anonymity. She was with her sister-in-law and says they stormed out. But desperate to provide for her family, she explains she didn't know where else to turn, so went back.
On one occasion, Nada says Mr. Karagoz took her behind a curtain to get nappies for her son where he tried to touch my breasts. Another time, she says that he came from behind and grabbed my hand… he forced me to touch his genitals. Afraid of the stigma attached to sexual abuse and scared she would be blamed, Nada says she didn't feel she could tell anyone, even her husband.
Batoul, another victim, described how a similar encounter scared her and led to isolation. These testimonies are part of a disturbing trend that has also seen Karagoz face allegations previously, although complaints were often thwarted by fear of stigma and repercussions.
Despite his denials, the testimonies led to his arrest and there is hope among the victims that this action will empower others to speak out about their experiences. Batoul expressed her happiness over his arrest, stating it brings strength and courage to others suffering in silence.
