A man in Türkiye has been found legally responsible for emotionally harming his ex-wife after saving her contact name as “Tombik”, a Turkish term meaning “chubby”, in his mobile phone.
The court in Uşak, Western Türkiye, concluded that the nickname, along with a series of hostile text messages, amounted to emotional and financial abuse, contributing to the breakdown of the couple’s marriage.
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According to Turkish news outlets, the woman initiated divorce proceedings citing emotional distress, while her husband filed a counterclaim accusing her of infidelity. The couple, who share children had a contentious legal battle.
Court sided with the woman
During the trial, the woman presented evidence of threatening messages from her husband, including phrases like “Get away, I do not want to see you” and “Let the devil see your face.” She also revealed that he had demanded money for his father’s medical expenses and had labeled her contact in his phone with the derogatory nickname.
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The court sided with the woman, ruling that the man’s behaviour constituted “emotional and economic violence.” His accusations of infidelity were dismissed after investigators found no evidence of a romantic relationship between the woman and a man who had visited her home to deliver a book.
Under Türkiye’s law, actions or language that undermine a person’s dignity, even via text, can result in up to two years in prison and financial penalties. The court finalised the divorce and ordered the man to pay both material and moral compensation to his former spouse. The exact amount remains undisclosed.
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