"Bet & Release": Divorcée Celebrated Her New Freedom With Masked Dancing Tour, in Tekirdağ

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 30 May 2025)

                   This time she gambled...and she won.

In Tekirdağ's Süleymanpaşa district, E.D. (30) divorced her 

husband of three years because of his online gambling addiction.

The divorce process lasted 10 months, so to finally celebrate her 

freedom E.D. dolled-up her car and set out on a "freedom tour"

in the center of town,  accompanied by the sounds of  Gypsy

folk music.  

However (!), in light of communal pressure on divorced women

E.D. donned a mask as she danced around to the music.  She

related that "Since communal pressure on women is so extreme

I was even hesitant to celebrate my own freedom.  But I wanted to

be an example for others.  I'm someone who's very fond of my

freedom but my  and my child's welfare suffered so much because

of the squandered money."

Continuing, E.D. lamented that "To be rescued from this marriage

I had to agree to forego alimony, but I preferred my freedom

anyway.   And I'm very discomfited by the gossip people spread

about divorced women (hence the mask).  Nevertheless, I want

to alert everyone about the dangers of these online gambling 

sites that ruined my home.  Sometimes these things end in 

suicides and murders.  Of course, our government is trying to

take some measures but ıt's not enough.  Gambling destroyed

my home because we went broke thanks to my husband's

gambling habit."

 

"Fleece & Release": Four Animals Destined for "Sacrifice" Get a Short Reprieve, in Sapanca

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 29 May 2025)

                  Alive and well...but for how long?

In Sapanca district of  Sakarya province, M.C. (27) and his 

wife G.C. (24) loaded four sacrificial animals into their

vehicle without paying the owner, but they were caught.

The incident occurred on 27 May in the Hacımercan location.

Seller T.D. (65, who raised the animals for sale, agreed

with the suspects for a price of 50,000 TL (about  $1,275)

but they made off with the creatures without paying T.D.

The Sapanca Gendarmerie sprung into action and looked at

camera footage from 11 different work places, as well as

researching the Plate Identification System.  The suspects

were tracked down to their home in Kurtuluş village in 

Adapazarı province and apprehended there on 28 May.

The four animals were found alive (although they will soon

be "sacrificed" during the upcoming Feast of the Sacrifice) 

and returned to T.D., while M.C. and G.C. were jailed. 

"Beat & Release": Holiday Resort Fined for Excluding Bachelor, in Hatay

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 29 May 2025)

Bachelor Beware!: comes with lots of screaming kids.

The Turkish Human Rights and Equality Council (TİHEK) has

imposed a 204,285 TL (about $62,000) fine on a holiday village

in Arsuz district of Hatay province for cancelling a bachelor

customer's reservation. (!)

Bachelor E.E. wanted to have a vacation at the "Defterdarlık"

(provincial registrar) Arsuz Training and Relaxation Facility but

his reservation application was rejected because he is single. This

prompted E. E. to seek redress with TİHEK , asserting that this 

sort of  discrimination against singles was both psychologically 

hurtful and illegal. 

When TİHEK asked the Hatay "Defterdarlık" for an explanation

the response was that the facility is essentially for families and 

that in previous times when bachelors were admitted fights erupted

frequently between families and the bachelors.  

However (!), TİHEK, citing existing non-discrimination laws,

rejected the facility's explanation and imposed a fine of 204,285 TL

on the facility.   

"Beat & Release": Former Film Star Stabbed to Death by Woman He Met on Social Media, in Istanbul

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 24 May 2025)

Another failed May-December romance, courtesy of social

media. 

Mehmet Serdar Sulukahya (60), an actor who had roles with

such stars as Tarık Akan, Fatma Girik and Ahu Tuğba in

movies like "Beyaz Ölüm", "Hülyam" and "Yakılacak Kadın",

was living in Holland and visiting Istanbul from time to time,

staying in his house in Beşiktaş.  The other day he invited 

Fatma P. (20), whom he met on social media, to his house in

Beşiktaş . 

However (!), an argument erupted between them at the house

and Fatma hanım stabbed Sulukahya multiple times.  As he

stumbled down the stairs to seek help from a neighbor, Fatma

hanım fled the scene.  

Sulukahya died at a hospital , while police tracked down Fatma

hanım and took her into custody.  In her statement to police,

Fatma hanım claimed that Sulukahya had tried to rape her,

prompting the violent argument between them. 

Leading man looks once upon a time...and another

Fatma (Girik).

"Tag & Release": Laser Tag Targets Protest and Get Stabbed Instead, in Bursa

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 23 May 2025)

                        Not everyone wants to play.

In Bursa's İnegöl district at about 10 o'clock the night before 

last, Hasan T. (16) and Ahmet Akif (15) were sitting in Kültür

Park with their girlfriends when they were targeted with 

laser beams (!) by M.D. (17) and Ramazan Y. (20).  

Discomfited by the laser beams, the two teenagers began 

arguing with the laser beamers, who then stabbed them both (!).

Hasan T. was seriously wounded and hospitalized. Police

tracked down M..D. and Ramazan Y. and took them into

custody. 

 

"Beat & Release": Vacationers Found Secret Camera in Bungalow; Owner's Denial Crumbling, at Lake Sapanca

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 22 May 2025)

                  They wanted to stream it on TikTok.

Hürriyet is continuing to pursue details of the "bungalow 

scandal" in Sakarya's Sapanca Lake  district.  Mesut Kozan, 

together with his wife and 7-year-old daughter, stayed in the 

"Troy Suite" bungalow on 30 March and found a secret camera

made to appear like a lightbulb placed above the Jacuzzi in 

the bungalow (!). 

Kozan filed a police complaint that resulted in bungalow owner

Hüseyin Koşuk and his partner Tansel Soyçiçek being taken into

custody.  Both of them denied any knowledge of the secret 

camera but Soyçiçek's fingerprints were found on the camera (!) 

so both suspects were jailed. 

In addition, an examination of Koşuk's telephone revealed a 

picture of the secret camera (!)  An investigation is underway

to determine whose hand is touching the camera in the photograph.

Koşuk still claims that the hand is not his.  However (!), a technical

report has determined that the photograph was taken on 7 March

and an associated voice clip reflects Koşuk saying to someone:

"What happens if they find fingerprints?" 

"Bite & Release": Turkish Ultra-Swimmers Attacked by "Cookie Cutter" Shark and Jellyfish, in Hawaii

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 21 May 2025)

The real Cookie Monster...

Ultra-swimmers Murat Öz and Yasemin Altıntaş represent 

Turkey in their sport internationally.  The swimmers' course

is the strait between two land masses.   Most recently, they

were trying to traverse the 42-kilometer (!) Molokai course 

in Hawaii at midnight because the "cookie cutter" sharks 

there don't come to the surface when the moon is out. 

and wanna-be:

However (!),  this time was the exception - Öz was bitten by

one of the creatures and had to leave the course at the half-way

point. And Yasemin hanım, a few meters ahead of him, was

stung by a poisonous Portuguese Man-of-War jellyfish!  

The two swimmers returned to Turkey yesterday. 

"Beat & Release": Galatasaray Football Fan, Celebrating Championship, Shot in Fenerbahçe's Territory, in Istanbul

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 20 May 2025)

It's the thought that counts...(!)

Yesterday at around noon, along the shore in Caddebostan

district of Kadıköy, Istanbul, an argument erupted between

a man wearing a Galatasaray football jersey and another

individual, who pulled out a gun and shot the Galatasaray

supporter in his foot (!). 

The gunman then fired a few shots in the air and fled. Medics

arrived to tend to the Galatasaray fan and the Galatasaray 

Club posted this announcement on its official social media

account: "We condemn the armed attack on one of our fans

who was celebrating our team's championship in the 

Çiftehavuz neighborhood of Kadıköy.  We wish our fan a

speedy recovery and hope that such incidents will not happen

again ."

"Fleece & Release": Dumped by Boyfriend, She Sought Help from "Golden" Soothsayer, in Ankara

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 18 May 2025)

                        I'd turn back if I were you...

Buket D. (46), who lives in Ankara, was suddenly dumped by 

her boyfriend in 2023 without explanation.  Buket hanım, 

though, was determined to find out the reason for the one-sided 

break-up so she turned to the website "medyumtigran.com" 

where the helpful (!) Medyum Tigran offered his services. 

After explaining the situation over the telephone,  "Tigran Hoca"

directed Buket hanım to send 4,800 TL to the account of his

partner Şaban A. and to provide the name, surname, telephone

number, date of birth and a photograph of her ex-boyfriend. 

She complied with both requests. 

As the "treatment" continued, Tigran Hoca called Buket hanım

late at night and "explained" that since she'd had sexural relations

with her ex-boyfriend "40 Moslem and 40 Jewish evil sprits" had

to be burned - the burning, however, required a "deposit" of 15

grams of gold, which would, of course, be returned to Buket

hanım after the evil spirits were burned up. 

Tigran Hoca's enforcers.

Buket hanım claimed she had no such gold to give but Tigran 

Hoca said in response that the evil spirits would relentlessly 

pursue her, her family and her ex-boyfriend until she paid up.  

Concerned that her ex-boyfriend would find out about her

quest, Buket hanım sent 18,500 TL to Tigran Hoca in lieu of

the gold. 

Two hours later, though, Tigran Hoca wanted 39 grams of gold

so Buket hanım borrowed money and sent Tigran Hoca 47,000

TL more (!).  Later, the insatiable Tigran Hoca demanded 

another 90,000 TL from Buket hanım.  

Ultimately, Buket hanım sent Tigran Hoca a total of 70,300 TL

before filing a criminal complaint with the Ankara public 

prosecutor.  Four suspects have been charged with fraud, with

jail sentences of up to 15 years requested in an indictment 

dated 27 April.  All of the suspects have previous records of

engaging in such frauds so their denials in Buket hanım's

case were deemed to be worthless by the prosecutor. 

Fuel for burning evil spirits

"Beat & Release": Adana Businessman Lured to "Honey Trap", Beaten and Robbed, in Adana

türkçe links to original Turkish article.

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 17 May 2025)

             M.T. finds himself in a sticky situation. 

In Adana's Seyhan district at around 2 o'clock in the morning on

13 May, businessman M.T. (50) received this urgent phone call

from his girlfriend D.A. (25): "I'm in trouble and I need help!"

In response, M.T. hopped in his car and went to the address D.A.

gave him. 

However (!), lying in wait in the bushes to ambush M.T. were

D.A.'s "friends" Mutlu U. (27), Muhammet K. (18) and İ.Ç. (17),

who beat up M.T., dragged him to a flat within the building , put

a gun to his head and stole his telephone, wallet and 3,500 TL in

cash. 

The "friends" next forced M.T. to transfer 10,000 TL from his

bank account to theirs via his telephone and stole 600,000 TL

from his car's glove compartment.  M.T. sought refuge in a local

bakery and called the police, who arrived with medics to treat

M.T. and take him to his home. 

Police then determined that the "friends" were hiding out in a 

house in the Yüreğir district, which was raided and the suspects

were arrested, along with their "hosts" Yusuf B. (28) and Mahmut E.

(19).   A search of the house produced the gun used in the assault,

along with M.T.'s sunglasses, ID card and bank cards.

As for "femme fatale" D.A., police are still trying to track her down.

"Cleave & Release": Dismembered Body Found in Freezer - Victim Missing Since 2014, in Kırıkkale

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 17 May 2025)

A day later, "parts"would have been in the supermarket!

When C.Ç. didn't receive the rent due for a top-floor flat on

11th Street in Kırıkkale's Çalılıöz neighborhood, he called

renter M.S., whose daughter explained that her mother M.S.

had died on 3 May.  

C.Ç. then came to Kırıkkale from another province and had

a locksmith open the flat's door, finding the refrigerator 

filled with human body parts (!). 

Police arrived and determined that the body parts belonged

to a  male and they found a meat cleaver, as well. It turned

out that the victim was Hüseyin Okumuşoğlu, who had gone

from Ankara to Kırıkkale in 2014 (!), never to be heard from

again.  Four suspects were taken into custody. 

"Beat & Release": Detective, Getting a Shave, Spots Fugitive in Mirror and Nabs Him, in Sakarya

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 16 May 2025)

Kürşat G. has a problem with mirrors.

In Sakarya, a Gendarmerie detective was getting a shave at a

barber shop in Erenler district on Tuesday evening when he 

looked in the mirror and spotted a wanted fugitive across the

street (!).  

The detective immediately took off after fugitive Kürşat G.

who has been on the lam for a year, fleeing from a 13-year 3-

month jail sentence imposed for 9 separate crimes.  

Realizing that the detective had seen him, Kürşat G. ran off

but was apprehended by the relentless detective.  The fugitive's

mother and friends confronted the detective and a failed effort

was made to spirit Kürşat G. away on a motorcycle. 

Police arrived on the scene to ensure Kürşat G.'s arrest, after

which he was put into Ferizli Prison. 

"Beat & Release": Unfriendly "Casper" Didn't Have a Ghost of a Chance - Nabbed in Bodrum

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 15 May 2025)

How Gendarmerie identified gang members. 

Rasim Başkaya, a member of the "Casper Gang" (!), wanted 

by police for involvement in a murder in Istanbul,  was said

to be in Bodrum.   The Gendarmerie there determined that 

Beşkaya was aboard a yacht in the waters off Gündoğan 

and ready to flee abroad. 

On 10 May, Beşkaya was apprehended in a Gendarmerie

operation and a search of the yacht yielded the revolver used

in the Istanbul murder and 5,000 Euros, both hidden in a secret

compartment.  Beşkaya was returned to Istanbul and jailed. 

"Casper" out of uniform.

"Beat & Release": Human Skull Found in Trash Container was Doctor's Training Prop, in Adana

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 14 May 2025)

Wife didn't think it matched the home's decor.

In Seyhan district of Adana at about eleven-thirty in the 

morning on 9 May, apartment janitor İsa Kaplan (40) took 

some refuse to throw into the garbage container.  As he

searched the container for stale bread to give to the small

livestock in the neighborhood, Kaplan found a human skull

wrapped in paper inside a plastic bag (!). 

In a panic, Kaplan told the apartment house security guard

about his discovery and police soon arrived to take the skull

to the Adana police forensic lab.  As the investigation continued,

police determined that the skull had been thrown in the garbage

container by G.I.S. (42), the wife of Dr. G.S. (51), a chest disease

expert at Yüreğir State Hospital. 

He still has his own.

At the time, Dr. G.S. was attending a conference in Van but as

soon as he returned to Adana he went to the police station and

"explained" that in 1994 when he was a student at Ege University

Medical School he went to Hatay's Samandağ district and 

obtained the skull from a cemetery worker to use in his medical

training.  Since then he kept the skull in his house but did not

know who the skull's "orignal owner" was. 

Dr. G.S. said that "I used the skull for training and kept it for

training other students."  He was released on judicial supervision

as the examination of the skull continues. 

"Beat & Release": All's Well That Ends (in a) Well - NOT!, in Kütahya

türkçe links to orginal Turkish article

(Sözcü Newspaper, 11 May 2025)

                            Internecine familial chaos.

In Kütahya, H.E.T. (22) went to the police station to report that

her sister Nagihan Uyğur (19) had been missing for a year (!). 

Police then determined that after their mother Hatice Uyğur 

went to prison, Nagihan and her two sisters went to live with

their uncle Yaşar T. (41), in whose house Nagihan was killed. 

Next, police found Nagihan's body in a well at the house that

had been covered with concrete.  Consequently, Yaşar T., his 

wife Havva T. (49), his common-law wife Emine Ç (35), his

brother-in-law Osman Ç. (37), Havva Eylül T. (40), Fatma Ç.

(62), Efe Sıktı T. (20), Halil T. (23), and sister G.U. (15) were

all taken into custody (!). 

It has been claimed that while Nagihan was living in Yaşar T.'s

house she was subjected to sexual exploitation by him.  Eight

of the nine suspects were jailed.  

In 2023, a meeting was held in Yaşar T.'s home, where the 

decision was made to kill Nagihan, after which Yaşar T. and

some relatives bound Nagihan with rope, threw her into

the well and covered it with concrete. 

"Beat (the System) & Release": Mother-Daughter Ruse Foiled in Kidney Transplant Caper, in Istanbul

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 12 May 2025)

Sometimes in these cases, parking lots are operating rooms.

Istanbul police determined that Z.A. (58), a woman who lives 

in France, and who is waiting for a kidney transplant, had been

turned down twice before by the Provincial Organ Transplant 

Ethics Council with donor D.K., whom Z.A. first identified as

"a close friend".  Z.A. then pursued other avenues for an operation. 

Police learned that Z.A.'s husband A.A. was searching for an

accommodating hospital by means of "facilitator" T.E., who

got in contact with hospitals in Georgia and Serbia, but settled

on one in Istanbul.  Next, Z.A. and D.K., this time posing as

mother and daughter, applied to this hospital. 

D.K., the kidney donor, showed the hospital the ID of Z.A.'s

daughter Ç.A. but the hospital determined with tests that 

there was no blood tie between the two women.  In any case,

up until the day of the operation, D.K./Ç.A came to the 

hospital wearing a hat and a mask each time, but police caught

her red-handed, along with Z.A., when they entered the 

hospital the day before the scheduled operation. 

D.K. stood to "earn" about 2 million TL ($52,000) for donating

her kidney to Z.A.  The two were taken into custody by police

along with A.A. and T.E.  Z.A., A.A. and D.K. were released

on judicial supervision and T.E. was given house arrest. 

You don't want to know what's in the bag...

"Dig & Release": Hotel's Illegal Tunnel to the Seashore "Just Appeared"; 10-Year Effort to Close It Has Failed, in Antalya

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 11 May 2025)

Can't extinguish the light at the end of THIS tunnel. 

In Antalya, a 5-star hotel built a 125-meter tunnel through the

"falez" (cliff) from its parking lot to the shoreline in violation 

of  environmental protection laws.  In 2014, authorities noticed

the tunnel and had both entrances sealed.  However, hotel

officials claimed that the tunnel "appeared" (!) during the hotel's

construction and continued to have their guests use it, even

touting it in advertisements. 

Prof. Dr. Nihat Dipova of Akdeniz University opined that 

"This isn't a new tunnel - it was made 15 or 20 years ago.

In any case, the tunnel harms the natural environment.  

Doing such things just for the sake of tourism, without 

concern for nature, is wrong."

Continuing, Prof. Dipova said that "The tunnel is for tourists.

If we ask to see it they'll say no, but it's widely advertised in

the hotel's commercials.  We don't know whether or not 

permission for the tunnel was ever obtained from the

Muratpaşa municipality." The mayor lamented that 

"Unfortunately, this matter has been going on for 10 years.

We took legal measures, but to no avail. The tunnel is wide

enough to drive a car through."

"Beat & Release": Inmate-Turned-School Security Guard (!) Kills Two Sisters at School, in Giresun

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 10 May 2025)

Perhaps the school has learned a lesson about hiring

practices...the hard way. 

In Aksu village east of Giresun city yesterday at about nine-thirty 

in the morning, Abdullah Turan (53), a former prison inmate who 

became a school security guard (!),  argued with school janitor 

Yonca Çavuş (30) and her visiting sister Rana Çavuş Gökçin (26)

in the school's canteen.  Turan then shot the sisters, killing them 

both. 

Turan fled but was later apprehended, while classes at the school

were (understandably!) suspended.  Giresun Governor Mehmet 

Fatih Serdengeçti promised a thorough investigation about Turan's

hiring, based on "KHK law 696".  He said that Turan had worked

n the National Education system for 5 years and was on unpaid

leave prior to the murder incident. 

The Governor noted that the incident occurred in a place where

there was no danger to the school's students. 

"Eat & Release": Tons of Fake Cat and Dog Food Seized, in Izmir

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 9 May 2025)

            Expert witness testimony: "Yeah, it's fake."

Last Tuesday, based on a tip, the Izmir Gendarmerie Command

and the Menderes Public Prosecutor conducted a raid in  Menderes

district, seizing 14,030 kilograms of fake cat and dog food (!),

7,000 kilograms of which were copies of a brand, while the rest

was packaged with no brand name at all.  

Additionally, a ton of fake cat litter, 17,510 copied plastic cups,

five printing machines and four electric weighing scales were

seized.  The market value of all the items was estimated to be 

4,275,000 TL (about $110,000).   One person was arrested and 

charged with violating the copyright law. 

"Beat & Release": 42 Illegal Migrants Nabbed in Bitlis - Next Stop El Salvador?!

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 7 May 2025)

Cramped quarters...

Anti-smuggling police in Bitlis stopped a TIR (tractor-trailer) 

loaded with wooden palettes in the city center and nabbed 42

illegal migrant inside the truck's trailer.  They were all handed

over to Immigration Bureau officials for deportation. Two 

suspects taken into custody for facilitating human trafficking 

were jailed. 

...can get even more cramped. 

"Beat & Release": Rowdy "Cowboys" Demand Photo Money from Visitors, in Kayseri

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 7 May 2025)

                "Uncle Ali" channeling John Wayne. 

The largest herd of wild horses in Turkey can be found in 

Hürmetçi village in Hacılar district of Kayseri province.  

Visitors to the area make sure to take pictures of the horses

and one visitor, Hanifi Öztekin of Istanbul, came with his

wife, older sister and 4-year-old child last October.

The Öztekin visitors were told that they had to pay 100 

liras to take photos but Öztekin demurred and began to

leave.  However (!), their car was blocked by Ali Kemer

(56), known as "Uncle Ali", who was dressed as an American 

wild west cowboy, and three others on horseback. The

"cowboys" then began to threaten and insult Öztekin, 

beating his car with sticks.  

As Öztekin recorded the attack on his phone, his wife

called the police and the four "cowboys" were arrested but

released on judicial supervision.  Fatma Öztekin related that

"I grabbed one of their telephones and ran to the car so they

wouldn't hurt my brother.  Then the rowdies surrounded the

car on their horses."

       They need "Uncle Ali" like a hole in the head.

As for "Uncle Ali", he "explained" that "When my horse 

reared up, I dropped my phone.  If she hadn't taken my phone

I would have apologized. But that is my area, so of course I

wanted money from them to take pictures. Anyway, what

happened happened.  I'll pay the fine."

The four "cowboys" have been charged by the Kayseri 

public prosecutor , who has asked for sentences of up

to 10 years in jail.   "Uncle Ali" claimed that "we look after

176 horses, day and night.  If we don't take care of them, they

won't be able to survive." 

However (!), the Hacılar district chief stated that the "cowboys" 

merely use the horses as a backdrop for their promotional videos 

and don't take care of them.  Consequently, "Uncle Ali" was 

fined 190,000 Tl (about $5,000).