Molly first met her partner Serdar in September 2024 after being introduced by a friend whilst she was working in a bar in Turkey (Image: undefined)
A woman who met her Kurdish husband while working in Turkey says trolls call her a “slave” for cleaning up for him but she insists she is just “house proud”.
Molly Parfitt Akti, 27, first met partner Serdar Akti, 25, in September 2024 after being introduced by a friend whilst she was working in a bar in Marmaris.
After a whirlwind long-distance romance Serdar, a lift engineer, proposed in November 2024 – after just two months of dating.
The pair kept in touch when Molly flew home to Mountain Ash, Wales, for around eight weeks – to earn some extra cash in the resort’s off-season.
The couple wed on September 27 in Marmaris in front of 60 of Molly’s family and friends.
A further two weddings took place in Batman, Serdar’s hometown with a traditional henna ceremony and service in front of 2,000 guests.
Now, the couple are living together in Fethiye and are looking to visit the UK next year to introduce Serdar to extended family.
Molly first met her partner Serdar in September 2024 after being introduced by a friend whilst she was working in a bar in Turkey (Image: undefined)
Sharing their relationship online, Molly says she receives “so many” messages from women dating or marrying a Kurdish man and advises they “don’t listen” to negative comments.
Molly, who is currently looking for work and is a TikTok creator, said: “I personally think it’s quite sad in 2025 and there is so much hate getting put out to different cultures.
“I’ve said online I was cleaning my carpet and people comment saying ‘oh you’re a slave. You clean your house for your husband’ or ‘is that a praise mat?’
“No, I’m cleaning because I’m a proud house person.
“We’re two people and we’re happy.
“He is the nicest, sweetest, gentleman ever.
“I’d known of him for a couple of years but had never spoken to him.
Molly first met her partner Serdar in September 2024 after being introduced by a friend whilst she was working in a bar in Turkey (Image: undefined)
“We met at a bar and I was like, ‘he’s handsome’.
“It was a short but sweet meeting and it turned into the best life.”
Molly had been on family holidays to Turkey when she was younger and “fell in love” with Marmaris after her mum Sharon, 64, broke her leg there in October 2019 – meaning the pair had to spend eight weeks there whilst she recovered.
She said: “I thought, do you know what this is the place for me.
“I moved out there and the first three years I just enjoyed, holidayed and went out.
“My friend got a job in a club called Excelsior and I got a job there.”
After work one evening Molly and her friend took a scooter to neighbouring town Icmeler to see a friend who worked in a bar there, where she met Serdar.
The pair got engaged after just two months and Molly met Serdar’s family in August 2024.
Molly said: “His family didn’t accept me at first because of cultural things and he literally said, ‘I’m marrying her in September next year, here’s the date it might be if you want to be there you can, if not tough luck.
“In August this year they said bring her here and we travelled 27 hours on a bus.
“They greeted me like no tomorrow.
“As it is they see programmes of people going out drinking or getting drunk in videos of Marmaris.
“They get a sour taste of people.
“After they met me they loved me and still love me now.”
Molly first met her partner Serdar in September 2024 after being introduced by a friend whilst she was working in a bar in Turkey (Image: undefined)
The pair first wed on September 27 in Marmaris in front of Molly’s mum, Sharon, 64, and 60 others from the UK, travelling to Fethiye for the second and third weddings.
Molly said: “At that third wedding there was 2,000 people and we had the whole crowd standing up and putting money on you, smashing bowls and glasses – a pure traditional wedding.
“We walked in and I said, ‘what do I do?’
“Serdar said, ‘I don’t know Molly I’ve never done this before’.
“I have so many women messaging me these days.
“They’re anywhere between 19 and 50 saying I’m with a Turkish or Kurdish person – how does it work and what do I do?
“They have bad comments.
Molly first met her partner Serdar in September 2024 after being introduced by a friend whilst she was working in a bar in Turkey (Image: undefined)
“I say it’s your own experience don’t listen to anything.
“Just be yourself – if you’re worried about the cultural part of their life they will accept you if you’re a decent person.”
Molly is looking for work after she left her previous role recently, as well as applying for her residency in Turkey and a visit Visa for Serdar to meet family in the UK.
She said: “I’m only entitled to one year, so next year I’ll have to do it all over again.
“I’m not guaranteed to be able to live here for life and he’s not guaranteed to be able to go to UK.
“You fall in love with who you do, and you do anything to be with them but it’s hard work.”
