Judge faces up to seven years in jail for criticizing length of lawyer’s skirt
A judge that created controversy with his criticism of a lawyer's skirt length is facing three to seven years in prison for "abuse of power" and "insulting a public official about their duty." Judge Mehmet Yoylu had claimed in May that lawyer Tuğçe Çetin's skirt length was 15 centimeters shorter than it was, had made an official report of the matter and had requested the lawyer's photo be taken.
Duvar English
A judge that became a topic of controversy for complaining about a lawyer's skirt length is facing up to seven years in prison.
"Abuse of power" and "insulting a public official about their duty" are the charges faced by judge Mehmet Yoylu in the indictment prepared by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor, calling for jail time of three to seven years, daily Hürriyet reported.
A judge at the 2nd Istanbul Anatolian Labor Court, Yoylu had claimed in May that lawyer Tuğçe Çetin's skirt length was 15 centimeters shorter than it was, had made an official report of the matter and had requested the lawyer's photo be taken.
In his defense, Yoylu said that he was merely making a benevolent warning and that he was observing legislation as a member of the judiciary.
Yoylu had also told a male attorney that day that "it's not becoming of a man to wear an earring." The judge was removed from office by the High Council of Judges and Prosecutors following the incident, but returned to his post five months later.