Man gets house arrest for harassing women in headscarves in Turkey

A man in Antalya, Turkey, has been placed under house arrest and forbidden from leaving the country after verbally harassing women wearing headscarves in a market. The court handed down the sentence for "inciting hatred and contempt among the public."

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Aren't you sweating like this? It's hot, 36 degrees Celsius. You've covered yourselves completely. Do you go swimming like this too? Which sect is this? We are Muslims, but you are strange, perhaps.

The incident unfolded as the women were shopping when the man approached them, making offensive remarks about their attire. He questioned their comfort in the heat, asked if they swam in the same clothing, and inquired about their religious sect, stating, "We are Muslims, but you are strange."

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As the person walked away, he continued to speak with a mocking and demeaning tone. He said things like, 'We also go to the mosque, but your thoughts are probably different.' It was clear from his gaze and posture that he was singling us out and demeaning us.

One of the targeted women, Zeynep Umurbek, shared that the man continued his demeaning comments even as he walked away. She explained that they decided to post the video on social media because they felt unsure how to react at the time. The widespread support they received online prompted them to file a complaint with the Kaş District Police Department.

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We didn't know what to do, so we shared this video on social media. Thanks to the many people who supported us, we went to the Kaş District Police Department, gave our statement, and filed a complaint.

Umurbek noted that the decision to share the video was also influenced by a recent increase in incidents targeting women in headscarves. "It's unbelievable that we are still discussing these things in 2026," she stated, expressing frustration over the persistent prejudice.

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One of the reasons we shared this incident was the increase in videos related to headscarves in recent days. It's unbelievable that we are still discussing these things in 2026.