İskele Court Sentences Man to Six Months in Landmark Homophobic Hate Crime Case

Sünmez, who was also convicted of assault, threats and other offences against his former wife, received a total prison sentence of six months. Following the ruling, Numan delivered a message to LGBTİ+ people: “Be yourself. Because everything will be all right.”
The reasoning behind the prison sentence handed down in a case involving homophobic insults directed at Associate Professor Berna Numan during a violent incident in İskele in 2023 has been made public. The İskele District Court ruled that the words used by defendant Ergün Sünmez were not merely insulting but constituted hate-motivated psychological violence targeting Numan’s sexual orientation.
According to the 25-page reasoned judgment obtained by Bugün Kıbrıs, the court concluded that the defendant had intended to humiliate Numan in a public setting, marginalise her and make her a target of hostility.
COURT: NOT ORDINARY SWEARING DURING AN ARGUMENT
The incident took place in an apartment building in İskele on September 24, 2023. While physically assaulting and threatening his former wife, Pınar Taş, Sünmez also directed insults targeting Berna Numan’s sexual orientation at her in the same setting.
The court treated the remarks, which were made loudly enough for other residents of the apartment building to hear, as a separate offence.
The reasoned judgment stated that establishing a hate crime required more than general criminal intent: there had to be a specific motive manifested as prejudice or hatred directed at a person’s sexual orientation.
The court emphasised that the defendant’s remarks were not ordinary swear words uttered during an argument, but were intended to publicly humiliate Numan on the basis of her sexual orientation.
ONE MONTH FOR HOMOPHOBIC ATTACK, SIX MONTHS IN TOTAL
The court considered together the handwritten admission Sünmez made to police, witness statements and the psychological impact experienced by the complainant.
The reasoned judgment also noted that Numan suffered from sleeplessness following the attack, that her dignity had been seriously undermined and that her academic work had been adversely affected.
Under Articles 35 and 172 of the Criminal Code, Chapter 154, Sünmez was sentenced to one month in prison for hate-motivated psychological violence against Numan.
Sünmez was also convicted of serious assault, threats of violence and other offences against his former wife, Pınar Taş. The court ordered the sentences to be served concurrently, bringing the total prison term to six months.
The ruling is significant as the first prison sentence in Northern Cyprus for hate-motivated psychological violence based on sexual orientation.
BERNA NUMAN: BE YOURSELF, EVERYTHING WILL BE ALL RIGHT
Speaking to Bugün Kıbrıs about the ruling, Associate Professor Berna Numan said legal provisions addressing hate crimes were the result of many years of social struggle.
Numan highlighted the importance of visibility and support networks for LGBTİ+ people, particularly young people who feel isolated.
Numan, 52, said that if she could go back in time, she would take the hand of her 15-year-old self and tell her:
“Be yourself. Because everything will be all right.”
She said she wanted to convey the same message to all LGBTİ+ people who are trying to live openly as themselves today.
Source: Bugün Kıbrıs / Emine Yüksel