A court in Usak, western Turkey, has fined a man for emotionally abusing his ex-wife after it was revealed that he had saved her contact name as “Tombik,” a Turkish word meaning “Chubby.” According to Gulf News, the court held that the nickname, coupled with a series of demeaning and threatening text messages, caused significant emotional distress and contributed to the breakdown of their marriage.
The couple, who share children, were locked in a bitter divorce battle. The wife accused her husband of emotional abuse, while he countered with claims of infidelity. During the proceedings, the woman submitted messages from him that read, “Get away, I do not want to see you,” and “Let the devil see your face.” She also alleged that he pressured her to give him money for his father’s surgery.
An investigation later found the husband’s infidelity accusations baseless — the man he suspected was only delivering a book. The judge concluded that the husband’s behaviour, including repeated insults and monetary demands, amounted to “emotional and economic violence.”
The court ruled in favour of the wife, citing her mental well-being, and ordered the husband to pay both material and moral compensation. While the exact amount has not been disclosed, the court’s decision drew attention to Turkey’s legal provisions that criminalise acts undermining a person’s dignity. Under Turkish law, such actions or words can attract up to two years in prison and monetary penalties.
The case quickly went viral on social media. Reactions were divided — some users felt that calling someone “chubby” could be affectionate, while others backed the ruling, arguing that persistent insults and harassment cross the line into emotional abuse. One user quipped they might now think twice before giving their friends funny contact names.
