Human Rights Association Files Criminal Complaint Against Theologian Hatipoğlu, ATV

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Human Rights Association (İHD) Commission Against Racism and Discrimination has filed a criminal complaint against theologian Nihat Hatipoğlu, who performed a religious conversion ritual for a 13-year-old Armenian refugee child and converted his religion from Christianity to Islam, and the ATV Channel, which broadcast the ritual live.

In its petition to the İstanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, the İHD has indicated that the Article 115/3 of the Turkish Penal Code (TCK) and Article 9 of the European Convention on Human Rights have been violated.

Later in the day today (May 16), the Diyarbakır Bar Association has also filed a criminal complaint against both Hatipoğu and ATV executives.

Speaking to bianet yesterday, Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) Diyarbakır MP Garo Paylan also referred to the incident as "child abuse" and announced that he would file a criminal complaint.

Some highlights from the İHD's petition are as follows:

'Principle of child's best interest not observed'

"A 13-year-old Armenian child named 'Arthur' was made to recite 'the Kalima Shahadat' and his religion was converted to Islam. The child was told that his name would be 'Nihat' from then on.

"The most fundamental principle in children's law is the best interest of the child. Above all else, this principle was not observed and the child was used with his face openly shown in a live program watched by millions of people.

'An intervention in child's private space'

"As per the 3rd Paragraph of the Article no. 115 of the Turkish Penal Code, 'any interference in a person's beliefs or thoughts by using force or threat or in an unlawful manner' is counted as an offense. An unlawful path was followed in ATV's live broadcast, the private sphere of a 13-year-old child was intervened. As reported in the press afterwards, the mother of the child heard about the incident on television as well.

'It violates Article 9 of the ECHR'

"The State of the Republic of Turkey has signed and become a party to the European Convention on Human Rights.

"The Article 9 of the European Convention on Human Rights governs the freedom of thought, conscience and religion and what was done in the live program in question also constitutes a contradiction to the Article 9. 

Dear Public Prosecutor, we respectfully request that you accept our complaint and launch an investigation into this incident and a lawsuit be filed against the ATV television and Nihat Hatipoğlu."

Diyarbakır Bar has also filed a complaint

Shortly after the İHD has fied a complaint against Nihat Hatipoğlu and the ATV, the Diyarbakır Bar Association has also submitted a petition to the Diyarbakır Chief Public Prosecutor's Office to be referred to the İstanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office and filed a criminal complaint against both Hatipoğlu and the executives of the ATV.

(PT/SD)