Man who kicked woman on bus for wearing shorts jailed for three years

A 23-year-old nurse was left severely bruised after attack in Istanbul in 2016

A man has been sentenced to almost four years in prison for attacking a nurse on a public bus for wearing shorts.

Security guard Abdullah Cakiroglu was captured on CCTV kicking and verbally abusing 23-year-old Aysegul Terzi.

According to local media, Mr Cakiroglu was heard shouting: “Those who wear shorts must die.”

The incident took place in the Maslak neighbourhood of Istanbul, on the first day of the Eid al-Adha holiday in September 2016.

Ms Terzi had previously told the court her attacker shouted she had “no right to live” before kicking her in the face.

Three men stepped in stop the assault, but Ms Terzi was left with severe facial bruising.

Mr Cakiroglu was ordered to serve three years and ten months in prison for “preventing the practice of freedom of faith, thought and opinion” and deliberately causing injury, Turkey’s Anadolu news agency reported.

According to the Hurriyet Daily News, Mr Cakiroglu told investigators last year: “She wore shorts and was sitting in an obscene way with her legs sideways. She was staring at me with an obtrusive look. I lost myself in an instant.

“I thought she disregarded the values of our country and society and she did not show respect for herself and the people around her with her clothing style. My spiritual side took over and I kicked her in the face.”

The incident sparked protests on social media, with women in Turkey posting images of themselves wearing shorts in solidarity.