Turkey's Yargıtay deems coffeehouse habit a fault in divorce

Turkey’s Supreme Court (Yargıtay) 2nd Civil Chamber ruled that a husband who habitually spent his time in coffeehouses and neglected his marital duties was “heavy fault” in a divorce case. The court ordered the husband to pay the wife 50,000 TL in material damages and 50,000 TL in moral damages.

The decision, stemming from a dispute filed in Bursa, highlighted the husband’s abandonment of household responsibilities, economic neglect and alleged psychological abuse. The court noted that leaving the spouse alone in social settings and on special occasions and failing to contribute to utilities, clothing and travel expenses constituted a serious breach of the marital bond. The ruling is expected to serve as precedent for future family‑law cases involving similar neglect.

Public reaction in Bursa was mixed, with some viewing the verdict as a necessary reinforcement of spousal responsibilities and others questioning whether social life alone should justify a divorce. Legal experts emphasized that the judgment could shape how Turkish courts assess “neglect” in marital disputes going forward.