CHP reminds of grave incidents in Islami sects after Roblox ban: 'Don’t exploit children'

Written by Emirhan Çoban:

The online gaming platform Roblox, where thousands of young people create maps and develop their skills, and which also provides income to many users, was blocked by the Adana 6th Peace Court following the Instagram ban. Justice Minister Yılmaz Tunç, in a statement on his social media account regarding the ban, said, "Access to the Roblox game platform and its links in app stores has been blocked due to content that could lead to the exploitation of children. It should be remembered that the Republic of Turkiye is a state governed by the rule of law. Our state is obliged to take the necessary measures to protect our children according to our Constitution." In contrast, the AKP government, which quickly imposed a ban on Roblox, did not act as swiftly when religious orders were implicated in child abuse scandals.

'THEY SAID “IT’S NO BIG DEAL” FOR A ONE-TIME INCIDENT’

In 2016, it was documented that children were raped in houses affiliated with the Ensar Foundation and the Karaman Anatolian Imam Hatip and Imam Hatip Alumni Association (KAİMDER), both known for their close ties to the AKP. In response to the public outrage, the then-Minister of Family and Social Policies, Sema Ramazanoğlu, infamously remarked, "A one-time incident should not be used as a pretext to tarnish an institution that has distinguished itself with its services." Another case that resonated with the public involved Yusuf Ziya Gümüşel, one of the founders of the Hiranur Foundation affiliated with the İsmailağa community, who "married off" his daughter H.K.G. when she was just six years old, subjecting her to years of sexual abuse. The Istanbul Anadolu 2nd High Criminal Court sentenced the convicted abuser Kadir İstekli to 30 years in prison, while Yusuf Ziya Gümüşel and his wife Fatma Gümüşel received 20 and 16 years and 8 months, respectively. After the verdict, the public prosecutor appealed the case. The 20th Criminal Chamber of the Regional Court of Justice reviewed the local court's decision and ruled that the sentences should be increased, overturning the previous ruling. The trial, which had its last hearing on July 16, remains unresolved and has been postponed to September 23. This lack of action against religious orders, which come under scrutiny for child abuse cases every year, is noteworthy.

'THEY ARE MASKING A PROHIBITIVE MENTALITY'

Aylin Nazlıaka, CHP Deputy Chairperson responsible for Family and Social Services, criticized the Roblox ban in a statement to Cumhuriyet, saying, "The AKP should not use children as a tool for its prohibitive mentality." Nazlıaka stated, "Under the single-man rule, banning platforms is merely a pretext. The reality they are trying to cover up is a prohibitive mentality. If the government were truly combating child abuse, the horrific incidents of the past 20 years would not have occurred. They wouldn’t have debated a law that opens the door for a child to marry their abuser. AKP ministers would not speak of a child’s consent. If they were sincere, they would have prioritized the child’s testimony and not insisted on searching for evidence." Nazlıaka pointed out that Roblox contains thousands of games, stating, "Among these games, child exploitation was encouraged. Of course, we are against child exploitation. Child exploitation is a crime, and no one should utter a word to justify it. What we are reacting to is Erdoğan’s approach and attitude. If they were truly fighting against child exploitation, they could have addressed the content rather than banning the game outright. In a system that has not severed ties with the Ensar Foundation, where dozens of children were sexually abused, and that continues to entrust children to religious orders and sects, the government is not sincere," she concluded.