Turkish husband, who pushed pregnant wife off cliff, released from prison 6 years into life sentence

Hakan Aysal, sentenced to aggravated life imprisonment for the 2018 death of his pregnant wife, has been released after six years in prison while Turkey’s Supreme Court reviews an appeal. The decision has drawn criticism from women’s rights advocates, who say it raises concerns about accountability and how evidence is assessed in femicide cases.

Prosecutors said Aysal pushed 32-year-old Semra Aysal from a cliff near Muğla when she was seven months pregnant, and cited a $25,000 accident insurance policy naming him as sole beneficiary. Aysal denies pushing her; his lawyers and the Supreme Court’s chief prosecutor have argued the evidence was insufficient. A witness who filmed the couple shortly before her death told police Aysal seemed unusually calm afterwards.