Husband Saves Wife’s Number As ‘Chubby’, Ends Up Paying Heavy Compensation After Divorce: Here's What Actually Happened

Turkey viral divorce case: A recent judicial ruling in Usak, a province in western Turkey, outraged people after the conviction of a man for emotionally abusing his ex-wife. In the case, the husband had saved the contact name of his ex-wife as "Tombik," which is Turkish for "Chubby," and then sent her a series of threatening messages when the couple had a stormy marriage.

The woman, who had filed for the divorce, told the court that the husband's conduct had subjected her to serious emotional distress. She produced evidence in the form of a number of threatening messages, including sentences, "Get away, I do not want to see you" and "Let the devil see your face." Besides these threats, the husband is said to have sent her messages for money so that his father could undergo surgery, which also created pressure on their wedding relationship.

The woman argued that the labeling of her as "Tombik" was derogatory and humiliated her dignity. The court agreed and further stated that incessant abuse and economic harassment constituted both economic and emotional violence as defined under Turkish law.

Legal Implications Under Turkish Law

During the hearing, the husband had also sued his wife for adultery. Investigations, however, showed that the man with whom she was accused of having an affair had visited her only to deliver a book. There was no evidence of sexual or romantic contact. The court therefore dismissed the charges of adultery, blaming the breakdown of the marriage largely on the husband's insults and coercive behavior.

Turkey also has strong legislation that protects personal dignity. Dignity may be assaulted by words or conduct, including via text messages or other means of communication, for which a person can be jailed for up to two years and fined. In the said case, the husband was ordered to compensate his former wife both materially and morally. Though the actual amount has not been made public, the ruling underscores the severity of emotional abuse in Turkish jurisprudence.

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Social Media Responses

The decision has triggered heated debates on social media. Some maintained that referring to someone as "chubby" could be endearing or harmless, while others supported the court ruling, highlighting that incessant verbal abuse is not acceptable. A commentator jokingly said that the case could make individuals think twice about the names they use for their contacts in their phones.

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This case is an example of how seemingly trifling behaviors in relationships can make a difference. What may appear to be foolishness or frivolity in nomenclature can be a cause of serious emotional harm.