"Beat & Release": Louts Crash Protestant Church; Then Confess Druken Lapses of Memory, in Eskişehir

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 30 November 2023)

Protesting the Protestants same church, another moron

                Absentminded ambassadors of bad will.

In Eskişehir, Aykut K. (31) and his relative Halil D. (41) went to the 

Protestant church in Tepebaşı at around seven-thirty at night last

Saturday, after they had been drinking for a while.  They pounded on 

the doors and windows of the church, trying to force their way in.

Finally, pastor Artun Tokatlı opened the door only to hear the two

louts berate him, asking "Are you a Jew?! Are you an İsraeli?! If you

call the police we'll make you pay!" (!)

Shortly afterwards the two louts left and Tokatlı called the police,

who nabbed Aykut K. and Halil D.  Alcohol tests proved that they

were both drunk.  In his statement, Aykut K. said "I remember passing

by the church but I don't remember anything about what I'm accused of.

If necessary, I'll go there and apologize."  As for Halil D., he said "I

don't remember whether I went to the church or not...or how I got home.

I couldn't have said the things I'm accused of saying. Nevertheless, I

regret it and will go and apologize."

Both of them were jailed. 

Cheers!

"Beat & Release": Principal Without Principles Hurls Child, Mom Issues an S.Ö.S., in Milas

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 29 November 2023)

Mehmet Serkan G. was trained by Catholic school nuns.

In the Sakarya elementary school in Milas district of Muğla province on

6 October, deputy principal Mehmet Serkan G. grabbed student E.S. (6),

who was standing in the corridor, under his arms, picked him up and 

threw him into a classroom.   At the end of the school day, E.S. returned

home with his mother S.Ö.S. (!) and told his mother about a pain in his

midsection.  When S.Ö.S. insisted on hearing the details, E.S. told her

what had happened. 

S.Ö.S. took her son to the hospital and a report was obtained to 

document the child's injuries.  She then filed a criminal complaint against

Mehmet Serkan G. with the police.  Meanwhile, the Milas National 

Education Directorate began an investigation and the deputy principal

was relieved of duty on 19 October.  However (!), after paying a fine,

Mehmet Serkan G. returned to duty on 3 November. 

An outraged S.Ö.S. noted "What kind of a person, what kind of an

educator is this?!  He put the life of a six-year-old child, who was 

entrusted to him, in danger!  For two weeks we pursued this and he

was removed from duty. But after a slap-dash investigation, he was

returned to duty in six days, despite the trauma he inflicted on my

son and his classmates!  I swear on my honor that I will not let this 

matter drop until this man is prohibited from teaching!"

The Milas National Education Directorate declined to comment,

saying that the investigation of Mehmet Serkan G. is still ongoing.

Meanwhile, the Muğla governor's office declared that "a comprehensive

investigation has been initiated."

Asked to comment, they said, "What's the big deal?".

"Beat & Release": Pirates Seize Israeli-owned "Central Park" Tanker in Gulf of Aden, U.S. Navy Comes to the Rescue

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 28 November 2023)

                                    Central Park East

After pirates seized a tanker owned by an Israeli businessman - and with 

two Turkish crew members on board- in the Gulf of Aden, on 26 

November, the ship was rescued by a U.S. Navy ship.  The Liberian-

flagged "Central Park" (!) tanker issued an S.O.S. and the USS Mason 

answered the call, capturing the five pirates who tried to flee as the U.S. 

ship approached.  

In an announcement made by the Turkish Maritime General Directorate,

the Turkish crew members were identified as the ship's captain Aydın

Hasırcı and 4th captain Okan Yüksel.  U.S. sources did not comment on

the ultimate target of the attack, while the Yemeni government in Sana

blamed the Houthi rebels, who control southern Yemen and who are 

backed by Iran, for the attack. 

True to its name, there's even a zoo on the Central Park.

 

"Beat & Release": Dental Nightmare as Diploma-less Technician Pulls Teeth, in Istanbul

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 27 November 2023)

       "I'll be a dentist one day.  Right now, it's a hobby."

According to a case ongoing in an Istanbul court, Hakan Yıldırım (42) 

called a dental clinic in Kağıthane because of a tooth problem he was

experiencing.  Cemal Şenaslan, who answered the phone at the clinic,

told Yıldırım that he was a dentist and would see him that evening.  

When Yıldırım arrived at the clinic this time Şenaslan told him that he

was an academician at a university.

In any event, Şenaslan examined Yıldırım and declared that four of his

teeth needed to be extracted (!).  Yıldırım countered that it would not

be correct to pull abscessed teeth, which prompted this irritated response 

from Şenaslan: "You're going to tell me how to do my job??!!"  Next,

Şenaslan promised to make a dental prosthesis for Yıldırım and put him

under anesthesia, after which Şenaslan extracted four of Yıldırım's upper

front teeth (!). 

                                He's not smiling anymore.

After the extractions, during which Yıldırım was in great pain, Şenaslan

gave Yıldırım a prescription and took 1,000 TL from his as the cost of 

the examination.  Yıldırım, still in great pain and with his face looking 

like a balloon, went to a pharmacy to get the prescription filled, thinking

that his government health insurance would cover the cost.  However (!),

the pharmacist explained that the prescription must have a seal on it,

which Yıldırım's didn't, in order for the cost to be taken from insurance,

rather than from Yıldırım's pocket. 

So, Yıldırım went back to the clinic, where Dr. İbrahim Levent Ç. told

him that the seal must be put on the prescription by the dentist who did

the procedure.  He added, though, that Şenaslan does teeth cleaning for 

him in the evenings (he's not a dentist!), which was the last thing Yıldırım

wanted to hear. 

Yıldırım's lawyer Oğuzhan Er explained in a court petition that Yıldırım's

dental problems worsened after his visit to the clinic so he had to go to

a state hospital's emergency room.  He added that Şenaslan was given a

2.5-year jail sentence for practicing dentistry without a diploma.  In 

addition, Yıldırım is demanding 100,000 TL (about $3,400), plus 

interest, from Şenaslan for the emotional distress he suffered. 

Image from clinic's security camera submitted to court:

 

"Beat & Release": Doctor and Medic Threatened by Armed "Jailbird" , in Edirne Hospital

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 26 November 2023)

                      One flew over the cuckoo's nest.

On the night of 24 October, Rifat Kuş (whose surname means "bird") 

(23) and his relatives came to the emergency room of Sultan Murat I

State Hospital in Edirne and argued with the doctor on duty and another

medical staffer.  During the argument, Kuş took out a revolver from his

waist and threatened the doctor and the staffer.  Hospital security 

guards intervened to prevent the incident from spinning out of control.

Kuş was arrested and charged with "armed threatening" and a jail term

of from 6 months to 3 years was requested by the public prosecutor. 

Camera images of the incident were introduced into the court record.

At the first hearing, Kuş stated that "I'm not saying they ought to 

withdraw their complaint but they should at least wish me good luck." (!)

For his part, Dr. B.K. reaffirmed his complaint against Kuş and the two

others who came to the emergency room with him.  Medical staffer A.Ö.

noted that the three had played loud music in the emergency room 

despite admonitions from him and Dr. B.K.  They didn't shut off the

music and Kuş threatened them with a gun.  Kuş will remain caged (!)

in jail until the next hearing. 

"Beat & Release": Traffic Louts Flout Rules of the Road, Post Antics on Social Media, Get Caught, in Istanbul

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 24 November 2023)

                                    They got caught.

Traffic louts with flashing lights on their cars were weaving in and out of

road lanes on the D-100 highway in Kadıköy and Küçükçekmece and 

then posted videos of  their antics on social media, declaring 

"Yakalanmadığın sürece her şey legal!" (everything's legal as long as you 

don't get caught!"  

However (!), Istanbul police were able to determine that the traffic louts

were U.B., A.K., Ç.A., C.Ç., S.B., Ş.K., U.C.D. and another S.B.  All

eight of them were apprehended and charged with having tinted windows

on their cars, "drifting", "dangerous weaving", "tailgating", "disrespectful 

driving", "unlawful use of flashing lights", and "false license plates". 

The related fines amounted to 67,296 TL ($2,300) and U.B.'s driver's 

license was seized for 60 days.  In addition, a case was opened against

them for "putting the flow of traffic in danger."

Mario Andretti's they're not. 

"Beat & Release": Noisy Neighbors Massacred in "Fateful" Attack, in Sincan, Ankara

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 24 November 2023)

         Kader Apartment's horrific date with destiny

Tahsin Ünsür, living alone in a flat in the Kader ("kader" means "fate")

apartment building in Sincan, Ankara, became upset about the noise

children were making in the flat above his where junkman Hamdi Turgut

(41) and his family lived.  So, Ünsür went up to Turgut's flat and 

complained.  Dissatisfied with the results of the related negotiations, 

Ünsür soon came back with a "pompalı tüfenk" (pump-action rifle) and 

shot Turgut, his mother Behiye (72), his wife Sunay (40) son Mustafa (13) 

and daughter Ceyda (11).  The family's mentally handicapped son E.T. (4)

was unhurt in the attack. 

When neighbors alerted the police to the gunshots, medics arrived to find

that four family members had died and that Sunay hanım was still alive -

but she died later at a hospital.  Police found Ünsür sitting on a staircase

in the building with his weapon and took him into custody.  Little E.T.

was put in the care of social services. 

Building resident Dudu D. related that Ünsür and Turgut's family argued

often about the childrens' noise, with Ünsür declaring "I'll kill you all!"

Continuing Dudu D. said "we heard the commotion and went out on

our balcony and saw Ceyda on her balcony.  She said to us 'save us! He's

killed my dad and my brother.  We're next!'  At that moment, my 

daughter went to get my telephone as they we're being massacred on 

their balcony."

"Beat & Release": Dump Truck Driver Loses Control, Kills Wife, Step-Daughter and Self, in Sultangazi, Istanbul

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 23 November 2023)

                               Hit a bump in the road. 

In Sultangazi, Istanbul, dump truck driver Mehmet Kaya (47) and 

Şadumane Kaya married two years ago.  Sahdumane hanım had two

daughters from her first marriage and the younger one, Naciye Aleyna

Dayıoğlu, lived with them.  According to neighbors, Mehmet bey and

Şadumane hanım argued frequently to the point of violence.  As a result,

Şadumane hanım filed for divorce and went to live elsewhere.

Yesterday at about 6 o'clock in the morning, Mehmet bey, who has a 

police record of 11 crimes (!), forcibly entered Şadumane's residence.

Following the sounds of yelling and screaming, gunshots were heard.

At this point, Naciye Aleyna fled to the street.  Hard on her heels was

Mehmet bey, who had just shot her mother dead.  Once he caught 

Naciye Aleyna he shot her dead, too. 

Standing over her dead body, Mehmet bey phoned the husband of 

Şadumane's other daughter and told him "I just killed your mother-in

law and your sister-in-law.  Now I'm going to kill myself." Shortly

thereafter, Mehmet bey killed himself. 

"Beat & Release": The Miracle of Air Conditioning!, in Küçükçekmece, Istanbul

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Sol TV website, 22 November 2023)

    Looking up to heaven he said, "Thank God for AC!"

In Küçükçekmece, Istanbul, a group of foreigners, including children,

gave money to a human trafficking group in hopes of being spirited out 

of Turkey to Europe.  However (!), the traffickers were not satisfied with

the amount of money paid to them and bound the hands and feet of the

refugees, confining them inside a flat.

Yesterday at about 5 o'clock in the evening, two Afghans from among 

the refugee group jumped out of the window of the 3rd-floor flat where

they were being held.  One of them died from the fall but the other one

miraculously landed on top of an air conditioner and survived (!). 

Police arrived to take the survivor and 3 children found in the flat to

the police station. 

"Beat & Release": Another "Unrequited Love" Murder and an Elevator Tomb, in Salihli

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 21 November 2023)

             Elevated levels of insanity found in his blood. 

The day before yesterday residents of an apartment building in Salihli

district of Manisa province found the dead bodies of their neighbors

Devrim Güler (48) and her daughter Doğa Etyemez (18) in the building's

elevator (!).  The police forensic lab determined that both women had

been strangled with a wire.

That same day police took the women's downstairs neighbor Atalay

Yüksel (57) into custody in Ankara after he took a flight there.  In his

statement to police Atalay confessed to the murders and explained that

he wanted to have a romantic relationship with Devrim hanım: "Doğa

was aware of this so I went to their flat and an argument ensued. I

strangled Doğa with a wire at about 0130 hours.  Two hours later,

Devrim hanım came home and I strangled her, too.  Their flat is on

the second floor.  I put both of their bodies in the elevator and sent

it to the fourth floor."

Yüksel was charged with "planned murder of a woman" and jailed. 

"Beat & Release": Rescuers Mobilize but Can't Save Recycler Trapped Under Trash, in Kayseri

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 20 November 2023)

Valiant rescue effort stymied by darkness and foul weather.

Municipal worker Zeydan Mugan (45), working as a recycling sorter at 

the Molu Organized Trash Depository and Compost Facility in Kayseri's 

Kocasinan district, fell under a load of trash being dumped by a garbage 

truck at about 10 o'clock the night before last.  Teams from AFAD, 

UMKE, ANDA and IHH rescue organizations rushed to the scene to save 

recycler Mugan but after about four hours of searching the effort was 

postponed until the next morning because of foul weather conditions. 

The search for Mugan resumed yesterday morning and rescuers using a

back-hoe found Mugan's body amid the piles of trash.  The body was 

taken to the Kayseri State Hospital morgue for an autopsy and an 

investigation into the incident was initiated. 

"Beat & Release": Temple of Doom, in Beyoğlu, Istanbul

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 19 November 2023)

                  Beyoğlu's "Indiana Jones" at work.

In Beyoğlu, Istanbul, Derviş Karadağ was working at a "börek" (pastry)

shop when, at about 8 o'clock in the morning on 10 November, Engin

Yalçın (43), who was drinking alcohol on the street with a friend, hurled

an empty bottle at Karadağ's vehicle.  Taking exception to this, Karadağ

stuck a pencil in Yalçın's temple (!).  Medics arrived to take Yalçın to a 

hospital.

Meanwhile, Karadağ was taken into custody by police but released on

judicial supervision.  Back at the hospital, Yalçın, who had a police

record of 16 previous crimes, succumbed to his temple wound and 

died the day before yesterday.  Consequently, Karadağ was once again

taken into custody in connection with what had now become a murder

inquiry and jailed. 

Karadağ hoping to star in the sequel if/when he's released.

"Beat & Release": Where is "Gülistan"? - No Longer on the Map

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 18 November 2023)

                          Fell off the edge of the world.

In Tunceli, Munzur University student Gülistan Doku, enrolled in the 

child development department as a second-year student, left her dorm on

5 January 2020 and was not heard from again.  The next day her family

filed a missing-person report about her with police, who determined that

Gülistan hanım's cellphone signal was last detected on the Sarı Saltuk

viaduct at the Uzunçayır Dam Lake.  A camera image from a camera

confirmed that she was inside the vehicle crossing the viaduct at that 

moment. 

But despite the work of 542 personnel and data from 88 vehicles,

38 robots, 10 ROVs (underwater cameras), 6 drones, 4 sonar devices

and 3 sniffer dogs, no trace of Gülistan hanım was found and the case

was closed. 

However (!), police determined that the last person she spoke with 

before her disappearance was her boyfriend, Zeinal A. who was born

in Russia (!), and who was taken into custody nearly two years later in 

Antalya's Alanya district.  After his 4-hour interrogation, Zeinal A. 

was released on judicial supervision and forbidden to leave Turkey.  

A case was brought against Zeinal A.'s father, policeman (!) E.Y., 

because he posted information about Gülistan hanım that should have 

remained secret on social media so he was fired from the police and

jailed for 2.5 years.   

                  In search of Gülistan's coordinates.

Last week, Gülistan hanım's older sister Aygül Doku spoke with 

Tunceli Governor Bülent Tekbıyıkoğlu and Police Chief Hakan 

Duman and as a result, the case was reopened.   The family's lawyer

Ali Çimen stated that two days before her disappearance someone 

tried to forcibly put her into a white car.  On the night of 4 January,

prime suspect Zeinal A.'s father E.Y. was on duty at the police station 

and came to the scene of the incident.  It was determined that Zeinal

A. was the person who tried to force Gülistan hanın into the car, which

belonged to Zeinal A. and E.Y.

On the first day of the disappearance investigation in 2020, E.Y. left

Tunceli for Elazığ in the white car.  Lawyer Ali Çimen asked police

to check all possible means in connection with the car's movements

that day to Elazığ along a mountain road, but so far the requests have 

not been responded to.

"Beat & Release": Lawyer's Unrequited Love Spawns Threats & Blackmail, in Istanbul

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 17 November 2023)

Complexion problems may be the root of his unpleasantness.

Serkan K., a lawyer registered with the Istanbul Bar Association, was

working on behalf of G.Z. and her family but the two became 

romantically involved.   However (!), after breaking up with Serkan K.,

G.Z. married someone else.  Serkan K., though, was not to be denied

and continued to pursue G.Z. despite her being married.

Serkan K. took secret videos of his encounters with G.Z., after her

marriage, and threatened to blackmail her with them.  But G.Z. foiled

the blackmail plan by telling her new husband about her relationship

with Serkan K., who then threatened G.Z. with a gun.  G.Z. reported

Serkan K. to the Bar Association, but he only increased his threats so

she took her case to court.  

In her complaint, G.Z. stated that "during previous arguments he 

grabbed my neck and tried to strangle me. Because I exposed 

all of his threats and blackmail he may kill me with a gun.  I fear for 

my life and for my family members."  The Bar Association has started

an inquiry into Serkan K. and the court ordered protection for G.Z.

for one month (!). 

Serkan K.'s latest publication in the IBA Law Review:

"Beat & Release": Room 111 + 41 Screwdriver Stabs = Unpleasant Vacation, in Istanbul

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 16 November 2023)

The hotel no longer provides complementary screwdrivers.

Last Saturday, English citizens Ahmed Yasin Muse (28) and his wife 

Ayan Mohamed Dhobah (26) came to Istanbul by plane and settled into

room 111 in a hotel in Fatih district.  The couple toured the city's historic

and touristic sites, but the day before yesterday at around noon the 

woman's cries could be heard coming from room 111. 

Hotel staff entered room 111 and found Ayan Mohamed Dhobah in a

pool of blood.  Police and medics soon arrived and determined that 

Dhobah had died from 41 (!) stab wounds from a sharp instrument.

Police reviewed security camera footage and saw that her husband had 

rushed out of the hotel.  Muse was apprehended, wearing a bloody white

t-shirt.  In his statement, he explained that "she gave me drugs while we

were sitting in the hotel room and we argued.  Then I stabbed her multiple

time with a screwdriver, which I then threw in the toilet."  Police found

the screwdriver in the toilet and Muse was jailed on charges of "intent to

kill his wife" and "killing in a monstrous manner". 

Screwdrivers don't kill people...

"Beat & Release": Killer Embraced Victim's Body in "Grief", After He Sold Her Bracelet, in Istanbul

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 14 November 2023)

                                  Crocodile grief.

On 22 October 2022, Mevlüde Aluçlu was found dead with her throat cut

in her home in Beyoğlu, Istanbul.  When the murder came to light, her 

neighbor Baran Ünal (27) came to the home, embraced her body and 

wept.  

However (!), when police reviewed security camera images they saw 

that the last person to leave Mevlüde hanım's home before the murder

was none other than Baran Ünal.   He was taken into custody and police

noticed that he had cut his fingernails and washed his hands with alcohol.

The last person to call his phone was Mevlüde hanım but police 

determined that after he committed the murder, Ünal used Mevlüde hanım's

phone to call his own phone, in an effort to cover his tracks. 

That day when Ünal went to work he was quite tense and explained away

his distress to work friends by saying that he'd fallen off his motorcycle. 

He then phoned his boss and asked for leave because his neighbor had 

been murdered.  At this same time, Ünal sold Mevlüde hanım's 

bracelet (!) and then went to her home to embrace her dead body in a 

show of grief in front of police.  

Ünal declined to give a statement and was jailed.  The public prosecutor

noted that Ünal had tried all sorts of ways to create an alibi for himself.

The case has been postponed so that Ünal can prepare a defense for

himself. 

"Beat & Release": Afghan Miner's Body Burned by Illegal Mine Owner, in Zonguldak

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 13 November 2023)

Aboveground funeral pyre after underground fainting.

On 10 November in Zonguldak, the burned body of Afghan Vezir

Mohammad Nourtani (50), the father of 3 children who was 

working in an illegal mine, was found in a forest.  Eyewitnesses told

police that Nourtani had passed out in the mine, prompting police to

take six people into custody, including the mine owner and workers.

The suspects told police that they had previously been charged with

a crime in connection with operating an illegal mine but the penalty

had been deferred.  Consequently, they were worried that this new

incident would put them in jeopardy so they decided to "destroy the 

evidence" (!) by burning Nourtani's body. 

The suspects were seen on a gas station camera buying 5 liters of 

gasoline in Gelik town and then took Nourtani to the forest and 

burned him - a report by the police forensic lab will determine 

whether Nourtani was still alive when he was set on fire (!).   The 

report will also try to determine whether Nourtani passed out in the

mine due to an accident or because of health reasons. 

"Beat & Release": Vehicular Homicide Edition - in Antalya and Istanbul

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 12 November 2023)

                              Three seconds to impact...

In Antalya's Alanya district the day before yesterday, Murat O. and 

Azerbaijani Elnur B. came alongside the car of Ukrainian Dmytro C. 

on Sarıhasanlı Avenue on a motorcycle, snatched a pouch containing

36,000 Euros from the seat of Dmytro C.'s car and fled.  

In hot pursuit, Dmytro C. began firing at the pair with a revolver and, 

after about 300 meters chasing them, he smashed his car into the 

motorcycle, killing both Murat O. and Elnur B.  Dmytro C. was 

apprehended by the Gendarmerie and taken to the courthouse.  

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 12 November 2023)

                    Sibling inheritance tiff ends badly.

The body found the day before yesterday in a car in the parking lot of

Fatih Sultan Mehmet Hospital in Ataşehir has been identified as that

of TV personality Işıl Deniz Palabıyıklar.  Parking lot attendants 

discovered the body, with the safety belt fastened, in the passenger seat

of the car, covered by a blanket.  The body had begun to smell and it

was determined that death had occurred 10 days before. 

Işıl Deniz hanım's brother Miraç Palabıyıklar was taken into custody 

and confessed that he had killed his older sister on the night of 22

October.  He explained to police that "we argued about her taking back

the house and car I inherited.  Along the road, I got in the back seat and

fired at her.  I took her to the hospital, parked there and covered her. I

checked three times to determine whether or not she'd died."

 

"Eat & Release": District Chief Fills His and Pals' Stomachs but Won't Pay for It, in Artvin

 türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Bir Gün website, 8 November 2023)

              "Hey, I'm a VIP.  We don't pay for anything!"

In Artvin province's Yusufeli district, the local Turkish government 

district chief, Hacı Kerim Meral, refused to pay for the meal and dessert

he had eaten at a local restaurant, prompting the Interior Ministry to 

open an investigation. 

The incident occurred on 6 November around noon.  Meral went to the

restaurant with two guests and they all ate "döner kebap" and had

"sütlaç" for dessert.   However (!), after they'd all had tea, Meral got

up and approached restaurant manager Ferhat Kodat, telling him that

they didn't enjoy their meal and would not pay the tab.  The three 

then left the restaurant. 

The entire incident was captured on the restaurant's security camera

and, responding to an outcry on social media, the Interior Ministry

announced that an investigation had been launched.   The Artvin

governor's office made the following announcement: "the matter

concerning Yusufeli District Chief Hacı Kerim Meral that was

promulgated on social media today has prompted the Interior 

Ministry to assign an inspector to initiate an investigation."

There are even VIPs in the middle of nowhere.

Atatürk Accepted the Mark Twain Society's Award in 1937 for "Making Turks Laugh"

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 10 November 2023)

Atatürk in 1919 published by TNT on 29 October 2023 -

the 100th anniversary of the Turkish Republic. 

In connection with the 85th anniversary of the death of Turkey's founder 

Mustafa Kemal Atatürk on 10 November 1938,  Dr. Murat Soysal of 

Uşak University published an article about Atatürk's acceptance of an

award from the International Mark Twain Society, with some fascinating 

details. 

The Mark Twain Society's founder and president Cyril Clemens

(Mark Twain's cousin) sent a letter to Atatürk on 4 November 1937 

thanking the Turkish leader for accepting the award and noting that 

"we think that if Mark Twain were alive today he wouldn't admire 

anyone more than you for your success in making the Turkish people

smile and love life."  

In response, Atatürk sent a silver-framed photograph of himself,

which had the letters "K.A." inscribed on it in gold, to the committee.

In his memoir, Münir Hayri Egeli, who met many times with Atatürk,

noted that Atatürk had read French translations of Twain's books and

genuinely enjoyed them.  Egeli stated that Atatürk, who even declined

to accept "Order of the Garter" award from the King of England, 

surprised everyone by accepting the Mark Twain Society's award,

remarking "this is the highest compliment of my life, because it 

applauds my human side."

The Mark Twain Society lauded Atatürk as the "modern Romulus".

Dr. Soysal explained that "according to Roman mythology, Remus's

twin Romulus was the founder of Rome. The related legend says 

that the twins were left to float in a basket in a river and found and

raised by a wolf  - not unlike the Turks' legend of "Kurt Ana"

(mother wolf)."   Similarly, Atatürk founded a new country and a

new capital, Ankara. 

Two great men.