Using Pregnancy as a Shield to Avoid Punishment

Elif Şahin, a 32-year-old woman involved in 157 separate theft incidents in Istanbul, managed to avoid punishment due to her eighth pregnancy despite having a confirmed 127-year, 27-day prison sentence. Şahin was caught by police while hiding at her husband's grandmother's house. There are 18 separate arrest warrants for Şahin on charges of 'theft of goods stored in a building', 'theft by special skill of goods carried or worn', and 'theft by leaving in a place accessible to everyone'. With seven children and an eighth on the way, Şahin is accused of using her pregnancies and childbirth to avoid punishment. Police teams continue to process Şahin's case.