ALBAWABA - The story of Syrian baby girl Yasemin El Talha, who was violently beaten by her father in the Turkish city of Gaziantep, has broken the hearts of many people on social media, who called Turkish authorities to punish the abusive father.
The story began when the Syrian father, called Yousef, filmed himself brutally beating his 2-year-old daughter Yasemin El Talha to send the video to her mother, who reportedly fled the house, got a divorce and filed a lawsuit against the Syrian man.
According to Turkish media, the horrific incident took place in the rural Sinan Neighborhood of the Şehitkamil district in Gaziantep and showcased the father kicking and hitting the little girl, pulling her hair and throwing her on the ground, while another person was taking the video.
Screenshots from the video of the abusive Syrian father who was filmed violently beating his daughter. (Social media)
Turkish authorities make first statements regarding the Syrian girl's incident:
Turkish police responded quickly after the video circulated on social media and jailed and detained him in the Sinan neighborhood after determining his address.
Syrian girl Yasemin is now under protection by the Provincial Directorate of Family and Social Services in Turkey.
A statement was released by the Gaziantep Governorate regarding the incident: "Upon the sharing of images of violence against a child in our city on some social media channels on April 4, 2025, as a result of the investigation conducted by teams affiliated with our Provincial Gendarmerie Command, the foreign national named YE, who was understood to be the father of the child who used violence against the child in the images, was detained and subsequently arrested. The victimized child has been taken under protection by our Provincial Directorate of Family Social Services. It is respectfully announced to the public."
A statement made by Turkey's Ministry of Family and Social Services. (X)
The information that the abusive father was arrested and that the girl was taken away to a safe place was also confirmed by the Turkish Ministry of Family and Social Services via a statement on their official X account.
Where is the Syrian girl Yasemin now?
A rumor circulated online following the video of the little girl claiming that Yasemin had "died" after being transferred to the hospital in Turkey due to the violence she was subjected to, which allegedly left her with a concussion.
However, journalist Alaa Othman posted a video on his Facebook account denying the rumor that the Syrian girl had died. He said that after contacting a close relative of the Syrian girl, who was seen in the video in Gaziantep, the baby girl is now in the hospital and is getting medical care, but he said she is in an unstable condition.
Syrian father abuses his little girl. (X/Video screenshot)
