Avuncular Homicide & Dismemberment

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Posta Newspaper, 28 February 2019)


Uncle Rıfat's final resting place - at least for one of his legs.

Yesterday morning a young man who collects discarded paper found
a human leg (!) in a dumpster on Zeamet Sokak in Acıbadem,
Kadıköy-Istanbul.  Police who arrived at the scene found another leg
nearby in a bag, which had the telephone number of a cargo company
written on it.

By contacting the cargo company, police learned the name and address
of the person who sent the bag.  Shortly afterwards, police raided an
address in the İkitelli section of Istanbul and took Fahrettin Öztürk (31)
into custody. It turned out that a person seen in video footage near
the dumpster in Acıbadem was Öztürk. Two accomplices were rounded
up by police, as well.


                                 Nasty nephew Fahrettin.

Under questioning, Öztürk confessed to the murder and dismembering,
identifying the victim as his uncle Rıfat Rıza Öztürk (55) (!).  Fahrettin,
who buys and sells tractors, told police that he shot his uncle to death,
cut up the body and then discarded the body parts in various sections
of Istanbul, with the help of his accomplices, who are members of the
motorcycle club that Fahretiin belongs to.  Police are now trying to
locate the other body parts.


İkitelli is at upper left.  Acıbadem is near the bullseye.

 

TNT Matchbox Diary: A Turkish POW in Russian Prison Camp (1915-1918)/Part XXX

//Ed. Note: Fuad Bey is lucky he's not back at the front.
He a captive but living pretty well for the moment in
Vetluga, studying Russian and having a local tailor
make him some new pants.// 


                   St. Catherine Church in Vetluga today.

7 June 1916 Wednesday

The weather is nice, hot. Until late afternoon I worked with Şerif on the

Russian book. Russian grammatical rules are annoying. Halis and I 

went to the garden to walk around but we had an argument over 

something I said in jest without thinking. Anyway, Halis is nothing 

more than a child. In fact, a bit after we quarreled he came up to me 

and scolded me excitedly as a child would. But I was disturbed by one 

thing and that was he told me yesterday that he’s been thinking night 

and day about his father and his wife of just one week Zıya having 

suffered a calamity. He told me about a few more of his problems, as 

well. Yes! I found myself in the wrong because I had said something 

unintended that upset this troubled child. Because I had amplified the 

troubles of this child by doing what I did. Nevertheless, I’m able to 

comfort myself and I didn’t really feel  that bad since the problem had 

arisen unintentionally.

8 June 1916 Thursday

The weather is nice, hot. I went to see Şerif before noon but we didn’t 

work. In the afternoon I wrote my father a letter on the cards given to 

us prisoners. I advised him about my good health and told them not to

worry. I asked him if possible to send me Russian, French and German

dictionaries, a few readers, a novel and three of my latest photographs. 

I gave him my address here (in Russian). May God see that it reaches 

him. At night we talked until dawn.

9 June 1916 Friday

The weather is nice. Mosquitoes are active. I went to see Şerif in the 

morning and we worked on Russian a bit. After lunch we fell into a 

discussion and played some games. Here’s some news: the Germans 

have sunk a battleship in the North Sea carrying the English Defense 

Minister and the General Staff, who all drowned. The journal 

newspapers wrote this approvingly. Then they wrote that the Turks 

have advanced to the Kusur Pass. Apparently, the Kusur Pass is near 

the highest mountain four or five hours beyond Evlit. Very good. 

In the evening we discussed Zühdü’s marital problem. The poor young 

fellow is beside himself about entering this new life. Marriage is not 

such a bad thing but there are some possible problems while he’s in 

captivity. This is all related to the secretary’s grown-up daughter. But 

Zühdü hasn’t yet been able to make a definite decision.

10 June 1916 Saturday

In the morning a noise shook our surroundings. Everyoe who was 

sleeping got up in an outrage. The problem: Captain Hakkı and Osman

 had an argument about a missing spoon. The Captain’s ill manners 

and impoliteness in both words and actions fanned the flames. 

Nevertheless, the real reason was not clear. In the evening the 

committee and all of us gathered. Salah of the committee first 

requested that such a noise in the morning, which disturbed 

everyone, not happen again. Then Osman wanted assurance to prove 

he was in the right because of the insult he suffered from Hakkı. The

Captain was without grounds on all points and he apologized with a 

confession of wrongdoing to Osman. He was admonished not to let 

something like this happen again and the meeting adjourned. 

The tailor brought my suit today but because the pants weren’t quite 

right he took it back. With great difficulty I found five rubles and gave

them to the tailor. I asked him to bring back the remaining parts 

tomorrow. The tailor made the suit for 15 rubles. When I came to 

Vetluga I had just 35 rubles (although I had sold my army jacket

to Fahri for five rubles). I spent 20 rubles on material. I spent some 

money on other things I needed. Of course I don’t have much money 

and consequently it’s insufficient.  When I asked Kör Mehmet to lend

me some money he said he didn’t have any but just a few days ago 

he said that he did. When it comes to money no one is willing, honest,

loyal or true to his word. Again we went to sleep late.

11 June 1916 Sunday

Today I feel like I’ve got a high fever. Even when I resting I perspire. 

In the morning the tailor brought my pants but the space between the 

legs is still not right. Fortunately, I was able to find five rubles to give 

to the tailor. The weather is gloomy. In the afternoon it rained for a

few hours and the weather got cool. The mosquitoes are gone. I went 

to see Şerif again in the afternoon and we worked on Russian. At this 

time a ferry (like the ones on the Golden Horn) was passing on the 

river. The Russians take good advantage of the rivers. Zühdü today 

said that I’ve lost weight. He advised me not to think so much and 

not worry about anything, just live care-free. Osman related some 

things in the evening. We passed the time.

12 June 1916 Monday

The weather is cloudy again and in spite of the relative coolness the 

mosquitoes are active.  In the afternoon I went to see Şerif again and 

we worked a bit. Today I wrote down Russian verbs that I got from 

Hakkı (regular army junior officer, captured n May 1331 (1915)) and I

learned grammar, as well. After chatting at night, I went to bed. The 

nights are odd here. During the day the sun heads south and west from

 the point where it rises, at a curve of approximately 27 degrees. At 

night 90. Since the sun doesn’t go away after it sets there’s always 

some light. Dawn and pre-dawn blend together. Today I wrote a letter

to First Lieutenant Zıya, who I know from the War College, from our

regiment.  He has gone to Chukhloma camp. Will the letter get to him?

I  don’t know.

Chukhloma camp was located about 200 kilometers

west of Vetluga.

//END of PART XXX//

He Shoots Meatball Shop Partner and Heads for Next Victim: Mom

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Milliyet Newspaper, 27 February 2019)


Coincidentally, Sadık Z. is known affectionately among
friends as "meatball".

The night before last, an argument erupted between Erhan Günay (41)
and Sadık Z. (43), partners who had opened a 'çiğ köfte' (dish made of
ground meat, pounded wheat and red pepper) restaurant in Şehzadeler
district of Manisa province just 10 days ago.  Sadık Z. fired his gun at
Günay, hitting him in the right temple, and fled.  Güney was taken to a
hospital, where he remains in critical condition.

Subsequently, during a routine traffic stop on the Balıkesir-Izmir
highway, police and Gendarmerie teams boarded a bus to check
the IDs of passengers, one of whom was Sadık Z. (!).  Shouting
at the police that his was a "matter of honor", Sadık Z. fired a shot
into the floor of the bus.  He allowed the other 33 passengers to get
off the bus but took the driver and his assistant hostage.

Sadık Z. made the bus driver proceed along the road at gunpoint.
Police, though, set up a barricade at the Bigadiç turn-off and
succeeded in stopping the bus.  Sadık Z. would not surrender so
the police stormed the bus and subdued him, freeing the driver and
his assistant.

Researching the incident, police learned that Sadık Z. was en route
to Istanbul to kill his mother (!) over a family matter.  Sadık Z.
has a police record for 6 crimes, including premeditated, attempted
murder and  weapons possession.


Bus was en route from Izmir to Istanbul. Incident took place
near Bigadiç. 

 

TNT Animal Kingdom Edition: Rescuers Save Snow-bound Puppies

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 26 February 2019)


              All together now: "Sooooooooooooooo cute!"

HAYKURDER (an animal protection and rescue organization) learned
that 3 abandoned puppies were in danger of freezing to death in the
woods near the train line at Küçüksinekli-Danamandıra, two villages
on the Tekirdağ-Istanbul border. 



                                  What's a mother to do?!

Right away, a HAYKURDAR team went to the scene and found
not 3, but 8 (!), puppies and two mother dogs taking shelter under a
shack.  The animals were rescued with the help of AKOM (Istanbul's
disaster-response organization) and treated.  HAYKURDER chief
Erman Paçalı reminded everyone to keep animals in mind during the
cold winter and put out food and water for the critters.


Stranded, half-frozen dogs & puppies found near Çerkezköy.

TNT History Archives: Ottoman Conquest of Bender (1538)

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Milliyet Newspaper, 25 February 2019)


Inscription replica hung anew on the Bender Fortress wall.

The fortress in the city of Bender in the Transdniestria region of
Moldova contains a very important inscription about the Ottoman
Empire.  In 1538, Sultan Süleyman the Magnificent marched on
Boğdan Voyvoda (prince) Petru Pareş who refused to pay taxes
to Istanbul, and conquered the Bender Fortress and surrounding
cities.

Süleyman tied the region to his empire and made it a 'sancak'
(subdivision), placing a 6-line inscription, the first by an Ottoman
Sultan, above the fortress entrance that explained his conquest of
the Bender Fortress and proclaimed him to be the supreme and only
ruler of the world.



The inscription was lost during the 1918 tumult of the Bolshevik
revolution and the person who noticed this was George Vilkov,
a retired naval officer who is the director of the Bender Fortress
and museum.  When Vilkov saw a photo of the inscription taken
by Russian archeologist Nikandr Aleksandroviç in 1917 he got
in touch with Dr. Mehmet Tütüncü, the head of the Research
Center for the Turk and Arab World in Holland.  With the help
of the photograph, a replica of the inscription was made thanks
to the efforts of the two scholars and hung on the wall of the
Bender Fortress once again.

Sultan Süleyman's inscription reads as follows:

"I am God's slave and the sultan of this world.  With God's grace,
I am at the head of the Nation of Mohammed.  God's virtues
and Mohammed's miracles accompany me.  I am the Süleyman
whose sermon is read in His name in Mecca and Medina.  I am the
shah of Bağhdad, the kaiser of the Byzantine world and the sultan
of Egypt.  I am the sultan who has sent fleets to the Mediterranean,
North Africa and the Indian Ocean.  I am the one who took the
throne and crown of Hungary and made them my slaves.  Prince
Petru rose in revolt but he came to dust under the hooves of my
horse. I have conquered Boğdan.  ((signed)) Süleyman, who made
history by taking this fortress in the year 945 (1538) and who
comes from the line of Osman."



                               Bender is at top right.

The Real Spiderman

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Milliyet Newspaper, 25 February 2019)


                                        Yılmaz & friend.

Ali Yılmaz of Haliliye district in Şanlıurfa province, has been hunting
one of the world's most dangerous spiders, the black scorpion
(androctonus crassicauda), for 30 years. This particular scorpion is
peculiar to this region and Yılmaz finds them in fields and stables,
keeping them is special glass cases once captured.

Yılmaz sells the scorpions to the Turkish Health Ministry but his
dream has been to establish a facility to raise scorpions.  His dream
caught the attention of Emine Sabancı Kamışlı, one of Turkey's
foremost 'angel' investors.  Emine hanım invited Yılmaz to Istanbul
where they struck a deal to cooperate. Subsequently, 40 more 'angel'
investors joined in the project to produce scorpion venom, which is
used in the cosmetic and pharmaceutical sectors and which costs
$10 million per liter (!), making it one of the most expensive liquids
in the world.


                                Charming little fellow.


With the support of the 'angels' and KOSGEB (Turkish government
entity that supports small and mid-size businesses), the ALBILA
Serum ve Biyolojik Ürünler A.Ş. company has been established in
Eskişehir, with an investment of 20 million TL (about $4 million).
At ALBILA, the scorpion venom will be converted into anti-venom
and exported around the world by the end of 2019. 


'Angel' investor Emine Sabancı Kamışlı.

Yılmaz explained that "I began keeping the scorpions 30 years ago
to help with my school expenses.  The venom from black scorpions
is used in medicines for cancer, brain tumors and in botox, too.  Every
year I've been stung but it doesn't affect me because I've acquired an
immunity.  Since it's such a dangerous profession, there are only
two others doing it - one person in Brazil and one in Mexico.  When I
started I had 150 scorpions and now I have 500 full-grown ones.  I
nourish them with flour worms.  Each scorpion has between 20 and 80
offspring every year."


                           The accent is on 'alternative'.


Yılmaz noted that his work has been talked about in the U.S. and
German press.  Once word got around about Yılmaz, "I started getting
offers from pharmaceutical companies  and investors in America,
Germany, Israel, Iraq, Iran, Cyprus and other countries, saying 'come
work with us, teach us how to raise scorpions.'  But I'd rather be a
help to my own country.  This is my country, why would I go anywhere
else?  But some of them even offered me citizenship."


               Yılmaz models new ALBILA work uniform. 

TNT Matchbox Diary: A Turkish POW in Russian Prison Camp (1915-1918)/Part XXIX

//Ed. Note:  Sodomy is the distasteful topic of discussion
in Fuad Bey's house.  The inmates try to establish order
among themselves and set up a committee.// 


              The old sinema building in Vetluga today.

1 June 1916 Friday

When I woke up I heard some things. The Russian Commander had 

seen Burhan while he was passing  by our house. Burhan was busy at 

the time so he didn’t notice the Commander. Because of this the 

Commander sent the sergeant who was with him at he time and who 

is one of the noteables in Vetluga to tell us that the Commander was 

very angry  but that this time he would excuse Burhan. However, he 

said that from now on if an official salute is not given the offender

will be jailed for 20 days, in accordance with Russian law. Since today

is a Russian holiday every place is closed. Our fellows had a very

vulgar discussion all about sodomy. Disrespectful words particularly 

about the young fellows among us and the relatively handsome ones

…how shameful! How could this talk become an officer! We played 

some poker tonight and I got annoyed. The weather was a bit better 

than yesterday.

2 June 1916 Friday

When we awoke we found the weather to be quite nice. The sun 

was shining but there was a chill. An old Russian tailor came to our 

house and I gave him the gray broadcloth I bought. He took 

measurements. It will be done this week. Saffet, Burhan and I 

decided to ask Osman once again to give us lessons in German at 

convenient times, because Osman knows six languages (French,

English, Italian, German, Arabic and Turkish). Saffet will ask Osman 

and we are hopeful because Osman is good-hearted. 

News:  the Russian are in trouble and have pulled back to their 

original positions. The Turks are being heavily reinforced  with 

Germans and Austrians heading for Selonika , where the French 

and English have retreated.  This made us happy. It was written in

a Russian newspaper that Istanbullu Hakkı translated. I went to bed 

at midnight.

3 June 1916 Saturday

The weather is nice. I went into the garden to take advantage of both 

the weather and the beauty of spring so evident here but  the terror of 

the mosquitoes from the nearby swamps drove me back inside. We 

saw many rafts passing on the Vetluga River today, carrying large 

loads of wood for transport to other places. The Russians take good 

advantage of their rivers. Today the senior majors group that had put 

a stain on Turkishness in Moscow and which had generated incidents

that made the Russians laugh at us, came for a visit. But they weren’t 

ashamed at all. But we showed them proper hospitality anyway. Again 

today I heard that the Russians have pulled back to their original lines.

 

                                Vetluga River bank today.

4 June 1916 Sunday

As soon as I got up in the morning there was a loud noise. That idiot 

Kâzim, wanting to act big, used some vulgar words to assert himself 

but he was shut up with the appropriate firm response. After the list 

of names that was written and signed yesterday, the Command

secretary came and gave us each an advance of two rubles to last us 

until the beginning of the month. He said that this month salries will 

be given at the start of the month (based on the Rumi calendar). The 

tailor came and did a fitting. He’s cut it well. It’s Sunday again and the 

girls have come to stroll around in the park across from us.  Most of 

the fellows are watching them and when an opportunity arises they 

wave to pass the time. But I wasn’t partaking. Again I went to the 

other side and Şerif and I wrote a short story. We translated

it into French and then we had Osman correct it.

The Russian Newspaper is Writing

5 June 1916 Monday

The weather is nice but there’s a stifling heat, too. The mosquitoes 

are busy so we can’t take off our jackets. After morning tea I went 

to see Şerif. We began to write a book in Turkish, Russian and French 

for learning Russian. I wrote a bit and in fact I kept on writing

all night at the table in my room. But I didn’t even finish half of it. I 

went to sleep late, lying down a little before sunrise. Today there were 

a lot of log transport rafts that are each made up of at least seven or 

eight smaller rafts. On each of the rafts there are more than 2,000

trees. News: the Russians have pulled back to Azep, which they 

consider  their  original line. The Russian newspaper is writing 

?approvingly? about this and the Turks’ attacks.

6 June 1916 Tuesday

In the morning I wrote some more in the Russian book and after 

drinking my tea I went with the book to Şerif. After sitting a while I 

returned. After lunch I went to the bath with Tahir, Mehmet Ağa and 

Erzurumlu Hasan. There is an oven and a stove in a little room here. 

The inside is dirty and muddy, a so-called bath. As soon as I put some 

soap on myself  I got out. After the bath I again went to the other side 

and started to talk with Kör Mehmet  about the needs of our country. 

Şerif stated the aim and the path to be followed, saying that he would

do things to raise up the fatherland and convince the people.  He said 

he would enjoy doing such things. I have complete confidence in him 

because I trust both his actions and his behavior. May God protect 

good-hearted people like him. 

In the evening Osman proposed a conference so that we could set up 

a committee among ourselves and this was accepted. This committee 

will intervene in and resolve all kinds of issues in the house and settle 

any incidents that may arise among us. Everyone will submit to the 

committee’s decision. Any kind of problem among us will be within 

the purview of this committee. Very nice idea. Osman was chosen as

the chief, his assistant (acting 'ustarşi' for the house) will be Captain 

Hamid and the committee members are the secretary (Şakır) 

Selahaddin and Kâzim.

//END of PART XXIX//