Family minister sues main opposition CHP leader Kılıçdaroğlu amid sexist comments


Turkish Family and Social Policies Minister Sema Ramazanoğlu took legal action against the main opposition leader Thursday, accusing him of causing her mental anguish and violating her personal rights, and seeking damages of 50,000 Turkish liras.

Ramazanoğlu filed suit against Republican People's Party (CHP) head Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu for comments he made at yesterday's parliamentary group meeting of his party.

Kılıçdaroğlu accused Ramazanoğlu of remaining silent on a recent student sexual abuse scandal in the central Karaman province.

Ramazanoğlu's lawyers Cihat Haykır and Samet Can Olgaç presented a petition to the public prosecutor's office arguing that Kılıçdaroğlu had violated Ramazanoğlu's personal rights by insulting her.

The petition accused Kılıçdaroğlu of uttering words beyond "moral bounds" in the remarks, saying they had been reported widely and condemned by all sectors of society.

"These sentences cannot be uttered by a politician about another politician. These sentences are not criticisms or declaration of opinion, but insult and humiliation. Using the right to criticize requires a sense of responsibility," said the petition.