A 20-year-old who was left almost blind and disfigured from an acid attack in Turkey has married her attacker soon after he was released from jail. The man was able to leave prison early following CoViD rule changes as well as a change in law.
Berfin Ozek, was the victim of the acid attack from her ex-boyfriend Casim Ozan Celtik, 23, in 2019, after their relationship had ended. Before attacking her, Celtik had told the victim that if nobody could have her if he couldn't.
Celtik was arrested after Ozek revealed to authorieties who her attacker was. Following his arrest, Celtik kept sending her messages of apology and love, asking for her forgiveness.
Ozek later decided to withdraw her complaint, saying:
"I am not comfortable with him being between four walls there. We have written many letters to each other. I have given myself to him. I love him very much, he loves me very much."
But after people started protesting on social media, she changed her mind and asked her lawyer to reinstate the lawsuit.
Celtik was then sentenced by a court to 13 years and 6 months in a prison in Hatay. Following a law change, he was released early on probation. Ozek was left disfigured and with 30% vision in one eye.
Celtik proposed to the victim straight after his release and she agreed to marry him.
The victim's father, Yasar Ozek, said:
"She married without our knowing. I've fought for her for years, and now all of this has been in vain."
Lawyer, Ramazan Erdogan, said:
"The defendant became a convict with the approval of the verdict. Considering the period of his imprisonment, he was entitled to go to an open prison after completing the time he had to spend in a closed prison. However, due to the pandemic, convicts are considered on leave from open prisons until 31st May, 2022. The defendant's release has nothing to do with his marriage to Berfin. The decision is final. If it were not for the pandemic, he would have continued to serve his sentence in an open prison."
[Based on reporting by: The Daily Mail]
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