Empowerment from Adversity: The Arrest of Charity Head Amid Sexual Assault Claims

Sat Nov 01 2025 01:15:03 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

The arrest of Sadettin Karagoz, Turkish charity owner, on charges of sexual abuse has uncovered shocking accounts from vulnerable women. Survivors express hope that his arrest will inspire others to speak out against abuse.

Turkish charity head Sadettin Karagoz has been arrested following serious allegations of sexual exploitation against vulnerable women seeking aid. Testimonies from multiple survivors emphasize the need for courage in speaking out, with the case highlighting systemic issues facing refugees. The arrest represents a potential turning point for survivors hoping for justice.

A Turkish charity owner at the centre of sexual abuse allegations, brought to light by a BBC investigation, has been arrested.

BBC News Turkish revealed accusations that Sadettin Karagoz sexually exploited vulnerable women, promising them aid in return for sex. He denies all the allegations.

Mr. Karagoz set up his charity in Turkey's capital, Ankara, in 2014. Syrian refugees desperate for help said at first he seemed like an angel.

One of them, Madina, fled the Syrian civil war in 2016 and said that two years later, one of her children became critically ill and her husband abandoned her. Her name has been changed to protect her anonymity.

Left to care for three children alone, she went to Sadettin Karagoz's organisation, which translates as the Hope Charity Store. It gathers donations for refugees such as nappies, pasta, milk, and clothes.

He told me: 'When you have nowhere to go, come to me and I will look after you, she says.

But when she did, Madina says he changed. She describes how Mr. Karagoz told her to go with him to an area in the office behind a curtain to get some supplies.

He grabbed me, she says. He started kissing me… I told him to get away from me. If I hadn't yelled, he would have tried to rape me.

Madina describes how she escaped from the building but Mr. Karagoz later went to her home.

I didn't open the door because I was terrified, she says, explaining that he threatened to have her sent back to Syria.

Scared of repercussions, Madina says she never went to the police and did not tell anyone else what had happened.

According to 27-year-old Syrian refugee Nada, he said he would only give her aid if she went to an empty flat with him. If you don't, I won't give you anything, she says Mr. Karagoz told her. Again, her name has been changed to protect her anonymity.

On one occasion, Nada says Mr. Karagoz tried to touch her inappropriately while she collected aid. Another woman, Batoul, claims he assaulted her in a similar manner.

These testimonies were not the first to surface against Mr. Karagoz, as he has faced accusations of sexual harassment in the past. However, it was the recent BBC investigation that led to charges being filed.

The arrest marks a hopeful step for those seeking justice and empowerment. As Batoul expressed, she hopes this will encourage other women to find the strength to speak out against harassment and abuse.