A court in Turkey has ordered a man to pay compensation to his ex-wife after saving her contact name as “Chubby” on his phone, a term the court ruled was insulting and demeaning.
According to a Turkish media outlet, the Court of Cassation upheld a ruling that found the husband guilty of causing moral and emotional distress to his wife by labeling her as “Tombik” (Turkish for Chubby) in his contact list. The court concluded that the nickname constituted verbal humiliation and negatively affected the couple’s marital relationship.
The case emerged during divorce proceedings in the city of Uşak, where the wife testified that discovering the derogatory name had caused her psychological harm and “damaged her dignity.” The court agreed, ordering the husband to pay compensation for both material and moral damages.
While the exact amount was not disclosed, the judgment has now set a legal precedent in Turkey, meaning similar cases involving offensive or belittling language in personal relationships may be treated as grounds for compensation in the future.
The ruling has triggered widespread debate on Turkish social media, with many users divided over the court’s decision. Some defended the woman’s complaint as a legitimate issue of respect and dignity, while others argued that such nicknames can be endearing rather than insulting, depending on context.
Source: Harberler
