Istanbul resident fights nine-year legal battle for son's identity

Mustafa Hezer, a 55-year-old resident of Bayrampaşa, Istanbul, has been engaged in a nine-year legal battle to obtain official identification for his son, Ali. The dispute stems from a religious marriage Hezer entered into with Pırzoda Irgasheva, an Uzbek national, in 2015.

Despite conducting two DNA tests that confirmed a 99.98% biological match, Hezer claims the child remains without legal identity. This lack of documentation has prevented the 10-year-old boy from enrolling in school or receiving hospital care. Hezer has submitted various documents to the courts, including divorce apostilles and marriage certificates, to prove his parental rights.

The legal situation has been complicated by the deportation of Irgasheva in September 2024 following the expiration of her residence permit. Furthermore, the court has requested DNA samples from Irgasheva’s deceased former husband to verify paternity. Hezer noted that the deceased individual's family resides in Dubai, where the grave is located, complicating the collection of necessary evidence.